BackgroundMany women become obese during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Weight gain and obesity in the general population are often attributed to abnormalities of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. The aim of this study was to clarify change in ANS activity, body weight, percentage fat mass (%FM), and body mass index (BMI) and the factors regulating the return to the pre-pregnancy weight in the first year postpartum.MethodsThis study was conducted from 2012 to 2016 at the University Hospital of the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and a nearby obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Japan. Body weight and %FM were measured in 51 women using a dual-frequency body composition measuring device. Heart rate variability and R–R spectral transformation were used as indicators of ANS activity. All parameters were calculated at three postpartum time points. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used for comparisons between measurement times. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was conducted to determine factors associated with the return to pre-pregnancy weight.ResultsMean body weight, %FM, and BMI decreased significantly over time after delivery (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). However, ANS activity did not differ among subjects in the three time points. 25.5 % of subjects had still not returned to their pre-pregnancy body weight by 150–270 days postpartum, and 19.6 % had not by 270–360 days postpartum. Normal-weight obesity (NWO; BMI of 18.5–25 kg/m2 and %FM of ≥30 %) was observed in several subjects at each measurement. The results of analysis using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model suggest that ANS activity had no significant correlation with the return to pre-pregnancy weight.ConclusionsThe management of body weight and %FM after delivery is considered important. These findings suggest that ANS activity is not associated with the return to pre-pregnancy weight, albeit that sample size was small.

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The present study demonstrated that mothers with anxiety or depressive symptoms had significantly lower HRV (HF, LF and TP) than those without.

This study investigated variations in pregnancy-related discomfort experienced, as well as their relationships with sleep during each trimester. A total of 344 pregnant women (first trimester 98, second trimester 105, third trimester 141) were surveyed using the pregnancy-related discomforts scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The nausea, shoulder discomfort, and cold hands and feet experienced during the first trimester were worse than during the third trimester. The fatigue felt during the first and third trimesters were related to sleep quality and daytime dysfunction. The malaise experienced during the first trimester was related to sleep quality. During the second trimester, the malaise was related to daytime dysfunction and during the third, it was related to both sleep quality and daytime dysfunction. The nausea experienced during the first trimester was related to sleep disturbances. The irritability demonstrated during the second trimester was related to sleep quality. These results suggest that understanding sleep disorders experienced by pregnant women will be helpful in predicting pregnancy-related discomforts.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between lower limb muscle mass in pregnant women and factors affecting it, such as physical activity, weight gain during pregnancy, and body mass index (BMI) prior to pregnancy. Subjects and MethodsFive hundred and twenty pregnant women were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire, which included questions regarding their prior to pregnant weight, height, and level of physical activity. Their weight and lower limb muscle mass were measured using a body composition analyzer (InBody270). Physical activity pertained to the presence or absence of exercise habits and daily activity levels (NEAT questionnaire). A t-test was performed separately for each of the primipara and multipara groups, and multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between lower limb muscle mass and factors associated with it. ResultsA total of 484 respondents (229 primiparas and 255 multiparas, aged 18-44 years at 5-40 weeks of gestation) with an average lower limb muscle mass of 11.53±1.68kg were included in this study. The muscle mass of both primiparas and multiparas was significantly higher in the high group (primiparas: 11.76±1.49kg and multiparas: 12.41± 1.72kg) than in the low group (10.97±1.70kg and 11.24±1.63kg). BMI at non-pregnancy was significantly higher in the high group (11.98±1.60kg and 12.17±1.56kg) than in the low group (10.71±1.60kg and 11.46±1.85kg). Among primiparas, lower limb muscle mass was associated with factors, such as prior to pregnant BMI and weight gain and prepregnancy exercise habits (β=0.339, 0.227, 0.136, respectively), with a contribution ratio of 18.8%. Among multiparas, lower limb muscle mass was associated with, weight gain, prior to pregnant BMI and daily activity levels (β=0.258, 0.245, 0.169, respectively), with a contribution ratio of 15.6%. Among pregnant women who had normal BMI prior to pregnancy, the lower limb muscle mass was higher in women with weight gain ranging from 4.9kg to >8.5kg at 16-27 weeks and 28-37 weeks of gestation than in those who did not experience weight gain. ConclusionPrior to pregnant BMI and weight gain affected the muscle mass of the lower limbs of pregnant women. Prepregnancy exercise habit affected the lower limb muscle mass of primiparas, while the level of daily activity affected the lower limb muscle mass of multiparas.