Physical Exercise Cardiovascular Adaptation Monitoring in Pregnancy (PE-CAMP Study)

Maternal cardiac output at rest, during exercise and after exercise measured in L/min would be recorded from study participants to analyse and compare potential changes inter and intra group.

Maternal heart rate at rest and after exercise would be recorded in beats per minute to be analysed and compared inter and intra group.

Maternal heart rate variability at rest, during and after exercise would be measured by r to r interval. It would be recorded and analysed to compare inter and intra group changes.

Foetal heart rate baseline would be measured at rest, during and after exercise. It would be analysed and compared in between groups.

Data obtained from accelerometer devices worn by exercise group participants.

Data obtained from accelerometer devices worn by control group participants.

Data obtained from accelerometer devices worn by all participants in the study.

Weight gain during pregnancy measured in kilograms would be recorded to be compared in between study groups.

Body fat percentage calculated from skinfold-thickness measures would be compared in between study groups.

Birth weight from new borns recorded in kilograms would be collected from maternal records. It would be analysed and compared between groups.

The Qol-Grav questionnaire is a validated questionnaire used to measure quality of life in pregnant women. This questionnaire would be filled in by study participants and analysed to record their quality of life during the current pregnancy. Scores derived from the questionnaire would be analysed and compared between groups.

The following total score scale is presented:

9-18: Excellent quality of life. 19-27: Very good quality of life. 28-36: Good quality of life. 37-45: Not very good quality of life.

Participants' pre-pregnancy physical activity levels would be registered using the modified physical activity questionnaire. This questionnaire records information about activities performed for the three months before pregnancy. Intensity of the activity would be recorded using three different levels of intensity (low, moderate and vigorous). Average time spent in each activity would be recorded in minutes. These values would be used to measure time and intensity spent in physical activity before pregnancy, and would be compared between groups.

Participants' physical activity levels during the first trimester of pregnancy would be registered using the modified physical activity questionnaire. This questionnaire records information about activities performed during the first three months of pregnancy. Intensity of the activity would be recorded using three different levels of intensity (low, moderate and vigorous). Average time spent in each activity would be recorded in minutes. These values would be used to measure time and intensity spent in physical activity during pregnancy, and would be compared between groups.

Participants' physical activity levels during the second and third trimester of pregnancy would be registered using the modified physical activity questionnaire. This questionnaire records information about activities performed during the second an third trimesters of pregnancy. Intensity of the activity would be recorded using three different levels of intensity (low, moderate and vigorous). Average time spent in each activity would be recorded in minutes. These values would be used to measure time and intensity spent in physical activity during pregnancy, and would be compared between groups.

Two questionnaires would be used to measure participants' quality of sleep during their pregnancy. These questionnaires are the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index.

Two questionnaires would be used to measure participants' quality of sleep during the postpartum period. These questionnaires are the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index.

The Brief Screening Questionnaire for Infant Sleep Problems would be used to register sleep patterns in the three months old infants born from study participants. Items recorded in the questionnaire are the following: sleep arrangement, time spent sleeping during the day and night, number of wakings per night, mode of falling asleep, time spent in wakefulness and normal time of falling asleep at night.

Type of delivery such as vaginal, cesarean section or instrumental birth would be recorded from maternal records after birth.

Type of analgesia (pharmacological or non-pharmacological) used during labour would be recorded from maternal records after birth.

Apgar score is a scale that measures health in the new born. This scale focuses on five parameters (skin colour, heart rate, reflexes and responsivness, muscular tone, and breathing rate), each of them rated from 0 to 2. This test is performed at the first and fifth minute of new born's life. Scores above 7 are consider normal, scores below 7 indicates that the new born needs medical attention. Scores from both tests (1min and 5min) would be recorded from maternal records after birth.

Maternal hand grip strength would be measured using a hand grip dynamometer. This test would be performed during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Maternal hand grip strength would be measured using a hand grip dynamometer. This test would be performed during the postpartum period.

Maternal upper body flexibility during second and third trimester would be measured using the back scratch test. This test measures how close the hands can be brought together behind the back.

Maternal upper body flexibility during the early postpartum would be measured using the back scratch test. This test measures how close the hands can be brought together behind the back.