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O'Dwyer C.1, O'Shea S.2,3, McPherson K.4
1Moving Along Physiotherapy, Airlie Beach, Australia, 2Charles Sturt University, School of Community Health, Albury, Australia, 3Birth & Bub Fit Physiotherapy, Albury Wodonga, Australia, 4Charles Sturt University, School of Community Health, Orange, Australia
Background: Exercise in healthy singleton pregnancies has been shown to be safe, and may reduce the risk of serious complications, as well as minor pregnancy ailments. Multiple pregnancies, where more than one foetus shares the womb concurrently, are higher risk than singleton pregnancies due to the unique complications that can occur. Multiple pregnancies are also associated with an increased incidence of other serious pregnancy complications, such as pre-term labour & birth, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Current evidence based guidelines recommend that multiple pregnancy is seen as a precaution for exercise, despite no research studies of exercise in this population having been conducted.
Purpose: In the absence of studies investigating the safety, feasibility and effects of exercise during multiple pregnancy, this pilot study aimed to explore the exercise advice given by health professionals in Australia to women experiencing a multiple pregnancy. Gaining greater understanding of current health care practice aimed to inform further research requirements in this area.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Obstetricians, Midwives & Physiotherapists (working in Womens Health) in Australia was utilised. The survey included questions regarding whether exercise advice was given in singleton and multiple pregnancy, what exercise advice was given, as well as factors influencing the type of exercise advice given. Ethics approval for this study was obtained through Charles Sturt University.
Results: 40 participants from across Australia completed the survey (Obstetricians = 5, Midwives = 18, Physiotherapists = 17). Approximately half the participants reported routinely providing exercise advice in multiple pregnancy (compared with 75% during singleton pregnancy), with Physiotherapists most likely to report that they routinely provided exercise advice in this population. The exercise advice provided by health professionals varied significantly with regard to the type of activities, duration and frequency. Personal experience (30%) was most commonly identified as the factor guiding the type of exercise advice provided during multiple pregnancy; with current pregnancy exercise guidelines found to be less useful.
Conclusion(s): Initial findings from this pilot study indicate that exercise advice is not routinely given to women experiencing multiple pregnancy. The type of advice given between health professionals may vary significantly and is most commonly based on personal experience.
Implications: With limited research evidence to guide clinical reasoning, health professionals are reliant on varying levels of personal experience to stratify the risks and benefits of exercise in multiple pregnancy. In addition; no, limited or varying exercise advice may result in confusion for women experiencing multiple pregnancy. Further research is required to determine the safety, feasibility and effects of exercise during multiple pregnancy.
Funding acknowledgements: Nil
Topic: Women's & mens pelvic health
Ethics approval: Charles Sturt University Human Research and Ethics Committee
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
