Level of Physical Activity in Pregnant Women within three Trimesters

Physical activity is any intentional, skeletal muscle-driven activity that consumes energy. There is a general consensus that physical activity during pregnancy is good for both the pregnant mother and her fetus. Pregnant women who do not have any contraindications are encouraged to exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Pregnant women who exercise during their pregnancy are less likely to have unfavorable health outcomes for themselves and their unborn children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of physical activity and sedentary behaviour among pregnant women during each of their three trimesters. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in various hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Keeping specific vetting criteria and purposive sampling in mind, 50 participants were included in this study. Data was gathered by using the Demographic Questionnaire and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). A portion of the data was also eventually obtained via internet sources due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis after first being collected from hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The results of this study revealed that the mean of all activities (sedentary intensity, moderate intensity, vigorous intensity, domestic activities, and sports activities) was highest in the first trimester, with the exception of light intensity, which peaked in the third trimester.

Keywords – Pandemic, physical activity, pregnant women, sedentary behavior, trimester