Women Movement Behaviors During Pregnancy and 2 Years After Childbirth: Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, Sleep, and Rhythm Changes in a Brazilian Birth Cohort

Abstract

Objective: To describe physical activity (PA), sleep, and rhythm patterns during 24-hr cycles from the second trimester of pregnancy up to 2 years after childbirth. Methods: This longitudinal study used data from mothers of the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort (Brazil). Women were invited to wear the accelerometer during 7 days on the nondominant wrist during the second trimester of pregnancy and 2 years after childbirth. Data collected included PA, sleep, and rhythm variables. We compared the means/medians of variables during the pregnancy and 2 years after the childbirth. We also describe the shape of acceleration across the day in the two evaluated periods and stratified this curve according to covariables. Results: This study includes data from 1,293 women with valid accelerometer data for both periods. The nonbouted moderate-to-vigorous PA average was 94 min during pregnancy and increased to 122 min 2 years after childbirth (p < .001). Sleep decreased by 11 min (388–377 min; p < .001) in the evaluated period. The pattern of acceleration across the day did not change in the evaluated period with two marked spikes of activity at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The amount of activity, however, increased. Conclusions: These findings may be helpful to better understand changes in PA and sleep during this specific period of life and assist in planning recommendations.