"Is It Realistic?": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Elite Women Athletes Considering Parenthood.

Background And Objective: As the visibility and acceptance of athlete-mothers increase, so does the number of women athletes considering parenthood. Yet, many athletes struggle with the decision to become a parent while competing at the elite level due to the significant changes and uncertainties that have been reported by pregnant and parenting athletes. The experiences of women athletes considering parenthood are under-represented in the vast sport literature but are necessary for developing evidenced-based policies and practices that can support women's equitable participation in high-performance sport contexts.

A comparison among oscillometric waveforms in healthy nonpregnant women, pregnancy and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Objective: Understanding of how oscillometric waveforms (OMW) vary between pregnant and nonpregnant individuals remains low. An exploratory analysis was completed to assess for quantitative and qualitative changes in OMW and oscillometric envelope features in pregnancy.

Design And Methods: Eighteen pregnant individuals (over 20 weeks gestational age) and healthy, nonpregnant (HNP) women were recruited.

Filling the evidence void: exploration of coach and healthcare provider experiences working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes - a qualitative study.

Objective: Recent research grounded in the experiences of elite female athletes has shed light on the complex challenges of navigating sport environments that do not support or value pregnant or postpartum athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences of coaches and healthcare providers working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes, and to identify actionable steps for research, policy and culture change to support them.

Methods: Sixteen participants (five coaches, three physicians and eight physiotherapists), who have worked with pregnant and/or postpartum elite athletes within the last 5 years, participated in this qualitative study.

Optimizing Blood Glucose Control through the Timing of Exercise in Pregnant Individuals Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of moderate intensity walking on postprandial blood glucose control for pregnant individuals with (GDM) and without gestational diabetes mellitus (NON-GDM). Using a randomized cross-over design, individuals completed 5 days of exercise (three 10-min walks immediately after eating (SHORT), or one 30-min walk (LONG) outside of 1 h after eating). These protocols were preceded and separated by 2-days of habitual exercise (NORMAL).

We're not Superhuman, We're Human: A Qualitative Description of Elite Athletes' Experiences of Return to Sport After Childbirth.

Background: A growing number of athletes return to elite sport following childbirth. Yet, they face significant barriers to do so safely and successfully. The experiences of elite athletes returning to sport following delivery are necessary to support evidence-informed policy.

Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy.

Objectives: Athletes train and compete at the elite level during their reproductive years, yet sport policies that support pregnant athletes are lacking. The experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy are vastly under-represented, and such voices are needed to support evidence-informed policy. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of elite female athletes as they navigate pregnancy, and to identify sport policy considerations regarding participation during pregnancy.

Shared decision making in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease: design of a patient orientated decision aid.

Background: Research has indicated a lack of disease-specific reproductive knowledge among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and this has been associated with increased "voluntary childlessness". Furthermore, a lack of knowledge may contribute to inappropriate medication changes during or after pregnancy. Decision aids have been shown to support decision making in pregnancy as well as in multiple other chronic diseases.

The Impact of Hospitalization on Physical Activity During Pregnancy.

The concept of prenatal physical activity has transitioned from a potentially risky behaviour to a prescription to improve maternal-fetal health. Pregnant women who are hospitalized because of a complication should continue to engage in light activities of daily living given the known adverse effects of maternal bedrest. Because the amount physical activity performed by pregnant women while in hospital not been documented; we compared levels of physical activity between women who were and were not hospitalized during pregnancy.

Physical Activity Behaviors and Barriers in Multifetal Pregnancy: What to Expect When You're Expecting More.

The health benefits of prenatal physical activity (PA) are established for singleton pregnancies. In contrast, individuals with multifetal pregnancies (twins, triplets or more) are recommended to restrict or cease PA. The objectives of the current study were to determine behaviors and barriers to PA in multifetal pregnancies.

Health Outcomes after Pregnancy in Elite Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate postpartum maternal health and training outcomes of females who were competing or training as elite athletes before or during pregnancy.

Methods: Online databases were searched up to August 26, 2020. Studies of any design and language were eligible if they contained information on the relevant population (postpartum athletes [any period after pregnancy]), exposure (engaged in the highest level of sport immediately before or during pregnancy), comparators (sedentary/active controls), and outcomes: maternal (breastfeeding initiation and duration, postpartum weight retention or loss, bone mineral density, low back or pelvic girdle pain, incontinence [prevalence or severity of stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence], injury, anemia, diastasis recti, breast pain, depression, anxiety) and training (<6 wk time to resume activity, training volume or intensity, performance level).

Cardiovascular function during triplet pregnancy.

Pregnancy is recognized as a natural physiological stressor to the maternal cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular adaptation is markedly greater in twin pregnancy compared with singleton pregnancy; however, these changes are sparsely documented in triplet pregnancy. The aim of this case series was to compare maternal cardiac function, cardioautonomic regulation, and blood pressure reactivity in healthy singleton, twin, and triplet pregnancies.

Cardioautonomic control in healthy singleton and twin pregnancies.

In conjunction with significant cardiovascular adaptation, changes in cardioautonomic balance, specifically greater sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal, are considered normal adaptations to healthy singleton pregnancy. Cardiovascular adaptation to twin pregnancy is more profound than that of singleton pregnancies; however, the changes in cardioautonomic control during multifetal gestation are unknown. To address this gap, beat-by-beat blood pressure (photoplethysmography) and heart rate (lead II electrocardiogram) were measured continuously in 25 twin pregnancies and 25 singleton pregnancies (matched for age, prepregnancy body mass index, and gestational age) during 10 min of rest.

Preeclampsia is not associated with elevated muscle sympathetic reactivity.

To determine whether increased chemoreflex tonic activity is associated with augmented muscle sympathetic nervous system activity (MSNA) in women diagnosed with preeclampsia. Women with preeclampsia ( = 19; 32 ± 5 yr old, 31 ± 3 wk of gestation) were matched by age and gestational age with pregnant women (controls, = 38, 32 ± 4 yr old, 31 ± 4 wk gestation; 2:1 ratio). MSNA ( = 9 preeclampsia) was assessed during baseline, peripheral chemoreflex deactivation (hyperoxia), and a cold pressor test (CPT).

Sympathetic nervous system activity and reactivity in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with vascular dysfunction. Sympathetic nervous system activity (SNA) is an important regulator of vascular function, and is influenced by glucose and insulin. The association between GDM and SNA (re)activity is unknown.

Thyroid function testing and management during and after pregnancy among women without thyroid disease before pregnancy.

Background: Screening in pregnancy for subclinical hypothyroidism, often defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) greater than 2.5 mIU/L or greater than 4.0 mIU/L, is controversial.

Moms Are Not OK: COVID-19 and Maternal Mental Health.

Depression and anxiety affect one in seven women during the perinatal period, and are associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, reduced mother-infant bonding, and delays in cognitive/emotional development of the infant. With this survey we aimed to rapidly assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent physical distancing/isolation measures on the mental health and physical activity of pregnant and postpartum women. Between April 14 and May 8, 2020, we recruited women who were pregnant or within the first year after delivery to participate in an online survey.

Physical Activity in Pregnancy Is Associated with Increased Flow-mediated Dilation.

Purpose: To determine the role of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and glucose metabolism during late pregnancy.

Methods: Seventy normotensive, euglycemic pregnant women (31.6 ± 2.

The impact of occupational activities during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

Objective: Data: An increasing number of studies suggest that exposure to physically demanding work during pregnancy could be associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the results remain conflicted and inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of occupational activities during pregnancy on maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Study: Studies of all designs (except case studies and reviews) that contained information on the relevant population (women who engaged in paid work during pregnancy), occupational exposures (heavy lifting, prolonged standing, prolonged walking, prolonged bending, and heavy physical workload), comparator (no exposure to the listed physical work demands), and outcomes (preterm birth, low birthweight, small for gestational age, miscarriage, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, stillbirth, and intrauterine growth restriction) were included.

Using anti-Xa level for adjusting intravenous unfractionated heparin infusion in peripartum thromboembolic disease.

Background: Intravenous unfractionated heparin infusion is often used to minimize the duration of time without anticoagulation around delivery in pregnant patients with high thrombotic risk. Activated partial thromboplastin time is commonly used to monitor and adjust heparin dose. However, using activated partial thromboplastin time is problematic in pregnancy because activated partial thromboplastin time response to unfractionated heparin is attenuated due to elevated Factor VIII levels and may lead to incorrect dosing.

Prenatal bed rest in developed and developing regions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Bed rest is prescribed by most maternity health care professionals for high-risk pregnancy complications, but the impact of bed rest at home and in hospital has not been explored. Our aim was to quantify the influence of bed rest on maternal/fetal health outcomes in developed and developing regions.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The impact of occupational shift work and working hours during pregnancy on health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Backgroud: An increasing number of original studies suggest that exposure to shift work and long working hours during pregnancy could be associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the results remain conflicting and inconclusive.

Objective: To examine the influences of shift work and longer working hours during pregnancy on maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Data Sources: Five electronic databases and 3 gray literature sources were searched up to March 15, 2019.

Blunted sympathetic neurovascular transduction during normotensive pregnancy.

Key Points: Normotensive pregnancy is associated with elevated sympathetic nervous system activity yet normal or reduced blood pressure. It represents a unique period of apparent healthy sympathetic hyperactivity. The present study models the blood pressure and heart rate (ECG R-R interval) responses to fluctuations in sympathetic nervous system activity aiming to understand neurocardiovascular transduction.