Effects of excessive sitting in pregnancy

This study explored how maternal physical activity and sitting time during mid-pregnancy affect placental and fetal growth, with a focus on differences by fetal sex. Among women in the Queensland Family Cohort, excessive sitting was linked to increased placental growth factor expression in female fetuses but reduced placental size and increased birthweight-to-placental weight ratio in males. Moderate physical activity was associated with some gene expression changes but did not affect overall birthweight or placental weight. Findings suggest mid-pregnancy is a critical period for feto-placental development, and reducing sedentary time may benefit placental health, especially in male pregnancies.

Full publication can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014340042400818X?via%3Dihub

Collaborators: Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Australian Catholic University and Griffith University.