Abstract
Author(s): Joanna Tiffert-TÅok (ABDEF), Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta (ADEG), Katarzyna SzuÅcik-Niewiadomy (CDEF), Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop (AD), Mariola Czajkowska (ADE)
Aim. The assessment of the influence of women’s pro-health behaviors on the course of pregnancy and labor. Materials and methods. The pilot study was conducted in a group 20 pregnant women, where the pregnancy was normal and uneventful. The subjects included 10 women who regularly, twice a week, participated in classes with a physiotherapist throughout pregnancy. The control group consisted of physically inactive women. The study was based on our own survey questionnaire and the standardized Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). Results. In the physically active women, the weight gain was 13.2 kg (±1.2 kg), and in the women who remained inactive, it reached 19.7 kg (±1.4kg). Lower back pain was noted in all the women in the control group and in 50% of the subjects. In the studied group, 100% of the women had a spontaneous delivery, with episiotomy performed in 30% of the cases, whereas 60% of the controls had a Caesarean section. Conclusions. Prenatal physical activity supervised by a physiotherapist and individually tailored to suit the abilities of a pregnant woman and adjusted to the week of gestation, women’s physical condition, intensity of physical activity before pregnancy, and general well-being significantly contribute to the health of both the mother and fetus.