Sitting For Long Periods In Pregnancy Could Impact Baby's Health

By the end of pregnancy, most women are spending long periods sitting down, but a new Australian study may just be enough to motivate more mums-to-be to move.

The Mater Research study has found that sitting for more than eight hours a day during pregnancy is potentially impacting the health of placentas and babies.

The study, which included 200 women who gave birth at Brisbane’s Mater’s Mothers’ Hospital, found that excessive periods of sitting were associated with smaller and stiffer placentas, with a potentially compensatory decrease in blood flow resistance in the umbilical cord.

“These findings highlight the importance of limiting sedentary behaviour during pregnancy for placental health, because a well-functioning placenta plays a critical role in supporting the growing fetus,” said physiology researcher Jade Kubler, who led the study.

“We know mothers can get uncomfortable and tired towards the end of their pregnancy, or choose to work later in their pregnancy.

“When this is the case, these findings show that taking regular breaks to get up and move around the office or home are necessary to ensure a well-functioning placenta.”

She said low-functioning and underdeveloped placentas can affect the growth and wellbeing of babies, and could lead to possible pregnancy or birth complications. And it didn’t matter how much physical activity each mum was participating in.

“Even if a pregnant woman is physically active, she could still find herself sitting for an excessive amount of time each day, whether that be at work or at home,” Ms Kubler said.

“Reducing the amount of time pregnant mothers sit is what appears to benefit the placenta in many ways.”

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14 Comments

- - MandaMags said
  - 04 Jul 2024
    3:35 pm
Pregnant or not, I prefer standing or moving about. I don’t know how many expecting mums can sit for an extended period of time.

- - mom101628 said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    4:40 pm
I must admit that I found sitting was a hard thing to do every time I was pregnant. Sitting seemed to press on a nerve in my back or somewhere that forced me to get up and walk around for a while. Must admit I did have quick deliveries with most of my children and even being booked in for a Caesarean, the little imp couldn’t wait and was delivered naturally.

- - rovermum said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    2:28 pm
Appreciate the research, the suggestion and the generalisation. Sorry but I suffered 24/7 and spent a lot of time lying down. Sitting up, movement, etc made me nauseous. Under Dr instructions I did what I could manage during my pregnancy. Delivered a healthy 9lb/4kg baby boy.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    9:00 am
Exercise is good for everything full stop. Supposed to minimise complications during labour too

- - Ellen said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    7:50 am
These findings don’t surprise me. I don’t think that sitting sitting for more than eight hours a day is good for any of us !
- mom93821 replied
  
  04 Jul 2024 , 4:22 am
  Bodies need movement to stay healthy.
- - Danicastefanie said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    7:13 am
I kept exercising with my first pregnancy. He was healthy but ended uo being in all the wrong positions during birth I relaxed with my second and she was a breeze. Both healthy babies and healthy kids.

- - TraceyGail said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    6:50 am
It’s good for us all to keep moving.

- - mom93821 said
  - 03 Jul 2024
    5:52 am
I never sat for long periods during pregnancy and still don’t sit for long. Bodies need to move, move move!

- - mom223151 said
  - 02 Jul 2024
    10:16 pm
With pregnancies I did alot of walking on the golf course, as my husband was a golf need. It kept me fit and labour time was only 2hrs or less. Quick fast births – then walked hospital corridors.

- - Frankiielot said
  - 02 Jul 2024
    8:16 pm
That’s good to know but some jobs night be hard to get out of the chair – telemarketers, call centres and the like.
I work a desk job and it’s really hard as sometimes I have back to back meetings for hours. I think businesses should invest in some sit to stand desks for employees.

- - BellaB said
  - 02 Jul 2024
    6:48 pm
It was just so hard even to get myself out of the chair in the last stages of pregnancy!

- - ChiWren said
  - 02 Jul 2024
    2:43 pm
My husband found academic articles when I was pregnant that showed data that your behaviours during pregnancy can influence the qualities your baby may possess. Not surprisingly that it can also have an effect on development. Not what you want to hear when you have swollen ankles and huge feet haha

- - mom486197 said
  - 02 Jul 2024
    12:16 pm
I disagree with this article and research, I have a desk job and worked for along as possible before my daughter was born and there was nothing wrong with her or the placenta.