Physical Activity in Twin Pregnancies: Double risk or beneficial?

Stipendiate: Silje Malen Andreassen

Supervisors:
Senior Researcher Katrine M. Owe, Professor II, Dr. MED Siri Vangen

Background
Physical activity in uncomplicated pregnancies involves minimal risk, and has important health benefits for both mother and child. Healthy pregnant women are therefore recommended to engage in regular physical activity, and it is known that physical activity during pregnancy can prevent several pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm birth. However, we do not know whether these health benefits of physical activity also apply to women who are pregnant with twins, because twin pregnancies are excluded from most studies that examine the health effects of physical activity in pregnancy. It is important to research how these pregnancy complications can be prevented, and it is necessary to clarify what role physical activity has in twin pregnancies. It is not known whether physical activity increases the risk of pregnancy complications in twin pregnant women, or whether it is safe and provides health benefits for mother and child.

About the project
This study is based on data from the Norwegian mother, father and child survey (MoBa), which is a national and prospective pregnancy cohort. In the period 1999 to 2008, MoBa has included more than 95,000 mothers, of which approximately 3,200 are twin pregnancies. The data base from MoBa is linked together with information about pregnancy and birth from the medical birth register (MFR). The participants in MoBa have responded to a questionnaire where they have reported their level of physical activity in weeks 17 and 30 of pregnancy, as well as 6 and 18 months after pregnancy. In week 17, the participants also reported their level of physical activity before the pregnancy.

Goal
We will attempt to describe the physical activity level before, during and after twin pregnancy, and investigate whether there is a change in the physical activity level compared to singleton pregnancies. We will also try to identify some predictors of physical activity in twin pregnancies. Furthermore, we will investigate whether there is a connection between physical activity in twin pregnancies and the risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth and giving birth to a child with a birth weight that is too low for gestational age (SGA). The study will provide new knowledge about physical activity in twin pregnancy, and we believe that our project in the long term can contribute to the development of knowledge-based recommendations for a safe level of physical activity in twin pregnancy. It will be useful both for the pregnant woman herself and for health professionals who will be giving advice to women who are pregnant with twins.

Cooperation
The project is financed by Stiftelsen Dam via the Norwegian Women's Sanitation Association.

Links:
Prosjektet: Forskningsprosjekter - Oslo universitetssykehus HF (oslo-universitetssykehus.no)
Orcid: Silje Malen Andreassen (orcid.org)
LinkedIn: Silje Malen Andreassen (linkedin.org)