Physical and Sexual Activity Not Unusual During Pregnancy

A common assumption is that most women sharply curtail their physical and sexual activity during late pregnancy. In a descriptive survey that was designed to maximize participants’ privacy and candor, primiparous women (mean age, 32) who gave birth at an academic hospital in New York City in 2006 were asked to describe their physical and sexual activity during three periods: third trimester, 2 weeks before delivery, and 2 days before delivery. Of 788 surveys distributed, 425 (54%) were completed.

Overall, frequency of physical and sexual activity declined as labor approached; nonetheless, most participants reported spending at least 5 hours on their feet each day, even during the 2 days before delivery. The proportion of respondents who repo…