The association between objectively-measured physical activity during pregnancy and the risk of cesarean delivery: a prospective study

Objectives:To evaluate the association between physical activity (PA) and risk of cesarean delivery. Material and methods: 197 singleton pregnant women recruited in this study. Participants were divided into vaginal and cesarean delivery group. PA based objectively monitoring between the two groups was compared. Logistic regres-sion was used to analyze the association between PA and cesarean delivery. Results: Moderate PA (MPA) of cesarean delivery group was less in the first (21.5 vs 27.5 min/day; p = 0.006) and second trimester (19.4 vs 26.8 min/day; p = 0.001). Light PA of cesarean delivery group was less (195.9 vs 217.3 min/day; p = 0.006) with more sedentary time (551.7 vs 529.1 min/day; p = 0.041) in the third trimester. Increased risk of cesarean delivery was noted in cases with MPA < 37.8 min/day compared to MPA >= 37.8 min/day (aOR 2.62; 95% CI 1.09 to 6.32; p = 0.031) in the first trimester. MPA < 17.9 min/day in the second trimester increased the risk of cesarean delivery (aOR 3.01; 95% CI 1.57 to 5.75; p = 0.001) compared to MPA >= 17.9 min/day. Conclusions: MPA in the first two trimesters were associated with the risk of cesarean section. Women should increase MPA from early pregnancy.