Excessive sitting increases pregnancy complication risks

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that excessive sitting during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of complications, such as gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

Research involving 470 pregnant women using movement sensors found that those sitting for more than 10 hours daily faced a 42% risk of complications, compared to a 19% risk for those sitting less. Experts suggest that frequent movement, such as walking short distances and avoiding long consecutive periods of sitting, can help reduce sedentary behavior.

Obstetrician Martha Calvente emphasizes that routine prenatal care, including laboratory tests and imaging like Doppler ultrasounds, is essential to monitor placental circulation and fetal growth to allow for timely preventive interventions.