- Spending excessive time sitting and insufficient light exercise during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of developing serious high blood pressure complications.
- Research indicated that over 10 hours of inactivity and fewer than five hours of light exercise daily “exponentially” raised this likelihood, regardless of the trimester.
- High blood pressure disorders, such as gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, affect 8-10 per cent of all pregnancies and can lead to severe conditions like eclampsia.
- A study of 470 women using 24-hour activity trackers found that 18 per cent developed a high blood pressure disorder, with risks sharply increasing for those with high sedentary time.
- Experts suggest limiting inactivity to eight hours a day and increasing light exercise to seven hours daily for the best chance of avoiding these conditions, while also calling for more research and personalised midwifery advice.
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