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Research to boost physical activity of mums
Ground-breaking research by a University of the Sunshine Coast Science student aims to help pregnant women and new mothers become more physically active.
PhD candidate Michelle van Mulken, 26, said preliminary findings indicated many first-trimester women reduced their exercise for more reasons than feeling physically tired or nauseated.
She said these ranged from fears about miscarriage to a lack of partner support to insufficient encouragement and information from medical professionals.
Some felt judged by others when involved in activities more energetic than walking, swimming or yoga.
“It was surprising that most first-time pregnant women had received very limited information regarding physical activity and most subsequent pregnant mothers had received no information on this during pregnancy,” Ms van Mulken said.
“In addition, information often was very conservative and mainly focused on nutrition and breastfeeding.”
The qualitative, longitudinal study involves collecting data from the same respondents over multiple time periods, during and after pregnancy, and is believed to be a first in Australia.
Dutch-born Ms van Mulken is one-third of the way through the three-year USC PhD project, which builds on similar research she did for her Masters degree.
The Moffat Beach resident intends the research to prompt new health promotion and intervention plans on the Sunshine Coast, such as improving local social networks for pregnant women.
The research aims to identify the individual, social and physical environmental determinants of physical activity during and after pregnancy.
“So far, it appears that a healthy and fit mum is generally happier and more capable of facing the struggles of motherhood, has healthier priorities and is more inclined to set the right example and involve her kids in physical activities,” she said.
Ms van Mulken said increasing pregnant women’s activity levels would lead to fewer health problems such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and poor foetal development, lower the risk of diseases later in the children’s lives and reduce Australia’s annual $14 billion burden of physical inactivity.
“Increased physical activity is also associated with less discomfort during pregnancy, better mental health, energy and sleep, enhanced body image and faster postnatal recovery,” she said.
— Julie Gatehouse