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Although physical exercise during pregnancy is generally recommended, some evidence suggests that exercise can adversely affect risk for preterm birth. To investigate whether initiating or continuing exercise while pregnant is safe, researchers assessed physical activity as part of the Danish National Birth Cohort study. In two telephone interviews at mean gestational ages of 16 and 31 weeks, 81,000 women with singleton pregnancies provided information about leisure-time physical activities as well as about potential confounders such as chronic illness. Total metabolic equivalent-hours of physical activity per week were calculated; birth outcomes were determined from the Danish National Patient Registry.
In the first interview, 63% of the pa…