A recent Danish study has revealed new factors that may significantly increase the risk of miscarriage during the first months of pregnancy.
The journal "OEM" indicated that the researchers analyzed data from more than 470,000 women, and studied information related to 803,829 pregnancies of working women in Denmark, during the period from 2004 to 2018. To assess physical activity and its impact on pregnancy, the researchers relied on data from activity trackers, in addition to expert estimates of the amount of time women spent standing, walking, or working in a forward-leaning trunk position at an angle of at least 30 degrees.
Data analysis showed that each additional hour spent working while slouching forward was associated with a 36% increased risk of miscarriage, compared to 18% for walking and only 3% for prolonged standing. The association was strongest with slouching forward: the more time a woman spent in this position, the greater her risk of pregnancy loss.
The researchers noted that this study is observational and does not prove a definitive causal relationship. They also acknowledged that they could not rule out some other factors that may affect pregnancy, such as smoking, weightlifting, or exposure to chemicals in the workplace, which calls for further research to confirm the results.
Doctors stress the need for pregnant women to avoid physical or psychological stress, to stay away from alcoholic beverages, smoking and harmful chemicals, and to take medications strictly according to the instructions of the specialist doctor, as all these factors may sometimes cause miscarriage.
