Promoting Stretching Exercise to Reduce Cardiovascular Health Risk in Late Pregnant Women With Obesity

Promoting Stretching Exercise to Reduce Cardiovascular Health Risk in Late Pregnant Women With Obesity

The purpose of this trial is to determine whether a stretching intervention is superior to a usual care control condition (moderate/vigorous activity 30 minutes daily, 5 days per week) for pregnant women from 27 to 37 gestational weeks.

Although being sedentary can lead to excess risk for maternal and child mortality and morbidity, most pregnant women reduce their physical activity and only 8% meet the recommendations in the 3rd trimester.

In a prior randomized control trial, it was found that fewer women who stretched developed preeclampsia than did women who walked (3/60 "stretchers" vs. 10/64 "walkers", p=.05).

In this study, participants will either receive a stretching intervention

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant at less than 24 weeks gestation
• Singleton pregnancy
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m^2 at their first prenatal care visit
• English or Spanish speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who expect or are scheduled to deliver prior to 37 weeks gestation
• Women who expect to move from the area during their participation in the study
• Women who are unable to exercise for 30 or more minutes 3 times per week