Sowing the seeds or failing to blossom? A feasibility study of a simple ecotherapy-based intervention in women affected by breast cancer.

Engaging in nature-based activities is recognised as providing the basis for easily accessible, cost-effective interventions which can have other important physical and psychological health outcomes. The aim of the reported feasibility study was to explore the acceptability and potential psychological benefits of a simple ecotherapy-based intervention for individuals affected by cancer. A total of seven women from an existing breast cancer support group agreed to take part in the study by cultivating and customising a garden bowl for three months, maintaining a diary, and participating in a focus group at the end of the project.

No need for a pregnant pause: physical activity may reduce the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia.

Available data, though sparse, consistently show that women who engage in recreational physical activity during pregnancy have approximately 50% reduction in the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus compared with inactive women. Physically active women have approximately 40% reduction in preeclampsia risk. Available data support the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists' recommendations that promote exercise during pregnancy.

A case-control study of maternal recreational physical activity and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Despite the maternal and infant morbidity associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), few modifiable risk factors have been identified. We explored the relation between recreational physical activity performed during the year before and during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and the risk of GDM. 155 GDM cases and 386 normotensive, non-diabetic pregnant controls provided information about the type, intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity performed during these time periods.

Relation between maternal recreational physical activity and plasma lipids in early pregnancy.

The authors examined the relation between recreational physical activity and plasma lipid concentrations in early pregnancy. Between 1996 and 2000, 925 normotensive, nondiabetic pregnant women in Washington State were interviewed at approximately 13 weeks' gestation regarding type, frequency, and duration of physical activity during the previous 7 days. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were measured in contemporaneous blood samples.

Maternal plasma lipid concentrations in early pregnancy and risk of preeclampsia.

Background: We investigated the relationship between early pregnancy plasma lipid concentrations and risk of preeclampsia.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, maternal blood samples were collected at an average of 13 weeks gestation. From the cohort, we selected 57 women who developed preeclampsia and 510 who remained normotensive and served as control subjects.