Physical Acvitiy in Pregnancy

January 12, 2026 updated by: Jun Seok Son, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Epigenetic Regulation of Physically Active Lifestyle on Placental Development

The goal of this observational study is to learn how a physically active lifestyle during pregnancy affects placental development and function. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does regular physical activity during pregnancy improve placental function and support healthy fetal growth?

Pregnant participants will provide biological samples and health information during pregnancy and at delivery. The study will use these samples to examine how activity levels relate to placental energy production and overall health.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This observational study aims to examine how a physically active lifestyle during pregnancy affects placental function and fetal development. We will enroll pregnant participants and collect biological samples, including blood and placental tissue after delivery. The study will measure markers of placental energy production and other indicators of placental health to understand the mechanisms by which maternal physical activity may influence fetal growth.

Data collected will also include health information, lifestyle questionnaires, and activity assessments during pregnancy. Participants will not need to change their normal exercise habits. The results of this study may help identify how maternal physical activity supports placental and fetal health, which could inform future recommendations for healthy pregnancies.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
        • University of Maryland Medical System

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of pregnant individuals receiving prenatal care and/or delivering at affiliated clinical sites of the University of Maryland, Baltimore and surrounding community healthcare settings. Participants will be recruited from local obstetric clinics and hospital-based prenatal care programs. The study represents a community-based sample of pregnant individuals with varying levels of physical activity during pregnancy.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant female and their newborn infant(s)
  • Aged 18-45 (pregnant female), age 0-60 days of life (newborn infant)
  • English speaking
  • Screened for gestational diabetes with standard glucose tolerance test between 24w - 41w gestation
  • Delivered at gestational age 34week-41weeks
  • Delivered via non-emergent Cesarean section during weekday hours
  • No known infectious disease (ex: HIV, HepC)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women <18yo or >45yo
  • Non-English speaking
  • Pre-existing diabetes or diagnosed with diabetes prior to 24weeks
  • Required complex diets/supplements not related to the pregnancy (i.e. malnutrition)
  • Known severe fetal anomalies or genetic disorder
  • Placenta accreta spectrum
  • Emergent cesarean delivery performed due to fetal distress
  • Known infectious disease (ex: HIV, HepC)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Con
pre-pregnancy BMI 18.5-24.9, no gestational diabetes
Behavioral: Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)

The PPAQ is a semiquantitative questionnaire that asks respondents to report the time spent participating in 32 activities including household/caregiving (13 activities),occupational (5 activities), sports/exercise (8 activities), transportation (3 activities), and inactivity (3 activities).

For each activity, respondents are asked to select the category that best approximates the amount of time spent in that activity per day or week during the currenttrimester. Possible durations range from 0 to 6 or more hours per day and from 0 to 3 or more hours per week.
overweight/obesity group
pre-pregnancy BMI of 25 or greater, no gestational diabetes
Behavioral: Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)

The PPAQ is a semiquantitative questionnaire that asks respondents to report the time spent participating in 32 activities including household/caregiving (13 activities),occupational (5 activities), sports/exercise (8 activities), transportation (3 activities), and inactivity (3 activities).

For each activity, respondents are asked to select the category that best approximates the amount of time spent in that activity per day or week during the currenttrimester. Possible durations range from 0 to 6 or more hours per day and from 0 to 3 or more hours per week.
Gestational DM group
pre-pregnancy BMI 18.5-24.9 with gestational diabetes
Behavioral: Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)

The PPAQ is a semiquantitative questionnaire that asks respondents to report the time spent participating in 32 activities including household/caregiving (13 activities),occupational (5 activities), sports/exercise (8 activities), transportation (3 activities), and inactivity (3 activities).

For each activity, respondents are asked to select the category that best approximates the amount of time spent in that activity per day or week during the currenttrimester. Possible durations range from 0 to 6 or more hours per day and from 0 to 3 or more hours per week.
gestational DM + overweight/obesity group
pre-pregnancy BMI of 25 or greater, with gestational diabetes
Behavioral: Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)

The PPAQ is a semiquantitative questionnaire that asks respondents to report the time spent participating in 32 activities including household/caregiving (13 activities),occupational (5 activities), sports/exercise (8 activities), transportation (3 activities), and inactivity (3 activities).

For each activity, respondents are asked to select the category that best approximates the amount of time spent in that activity per day or week during the currenttrimester. Possible durations range from 0 to 6 or more hours per day and from 0 to 3 or more hours per week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Placental mitochondrial function
Time Frame: At delivery
Placental mitochondrial function will be assessed using markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism measured in placental tissue collected at delivery. Outcomes will be examined in relation to maternal physical activity levels during pregnancy.
At delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 18, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2026

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HP-00099879

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Results of our study will not be shared with the subjects. We plan on publishing our results in a peer reviewed journal. We also plan to present the results as a thesis dissertation for Dr. Esteves. We also hope the results will generate evidence for benefits of physical activity during pregnancy, which will lead to seeking extramural NIH grants for cohort study of pregnant women with exercise programs.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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