Exercise During Pregnancy and Maternal Sleep Quantity and Quality

Alex Claiborne; Gabriela de Roia; Kara M. Whitaker; Richard R. Suminski; Freda Patterson; Breanna Wisseman; Kara Kern; Dylan Steen; Samantha M. McDonald; Cody Strom; Edward Newton; James deVente; Steven Mouro; David Collier; Devon Kuehn; George A. Kelley; Lindsey Rossa; Caitlyn Ollmann; Linda E. May

doi:10.31189/2165-7629-15.1.2

Journal article

Exercise During Pregnancy and Maternal Sleep Quantity and Quality

Alex Claiborne, Gabriela de Roia, Kara M. Whitaker, Richard R. Suminski, Freda Patterson, Breanna Wisseman, Kara Kern, Dylan Steen, Samantha M. McDonald, Cody Strom, …

Journal of clinical exercise physiology, Vol.15(1), pp.2-7

03/2026

DOI: 10.31189/2165-7629-15.1.2

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Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances are common in pregnancy and have negative implications for the health of the mother and offspring. We aimed to test the effect of prenatal exercise on sleep quantity and quality. Methods: This study was a retrospective, secondary analysis of pooled data from 2 blinded, prospective, randomized controlled trials (control n = 15; exercise n = 71). Sleep quality and quantity were assessed via self-report at 16 (baseline) and 36 weeks’ gestation in women assigned to exercise (aerobic, resistance, or combination) or an attention-control group. Sleep metrics were compared between exercise and control groups using independent-samples t tests. Tests for exercise mode and sleep characteristics were completed using mixed models, and the influence of exercise dose on sleep was assessed via Pearson correlations and independent-samples t tests. Results: Women exercised for an average of 21.8 weeks during pregnancy (range = 13–28 weeks). Exercising women slept 15–30 min longer per night than controls at 16 weeks’ (P = 0.049) but not 36 weeks’ gestation (control 7.27 h, exercise 7.52 h; P = 0.26). Whereas the aerobic and resistance exercise groups showed an increased probability of reporting good sleep quality at 36 weeks (P < .05), combination exercisers had no decrease in sleep quantity compared with decreases in the other groups (P = 0.19). Conclusion: Whereas exercise benefits sleep quantity during pregnancy, our results show an exercise mode–dependent influence on sleep quantity and quality at 36 weeks’ gestation.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Exercise During Pregnancy and Maternal Sleep Quantity and Quality
Creators: Alex Claiborne - Miami University
Gabriela de Roia - Universidad de Flores
Kara M. Whitaker - University of Iowa
Richard R. Suminski - University of Delaware
Freda Patterson - Department of Behavioral Health
Breanna Wisseman - University of Rhode Island
Kara Kern - Gannon University
Dylan Steen - University of Mount Olive
Samantha M. McDonald - Illinois State University
Cody Strom - University of Southern Indiana
Edward Newton - East Carolina University
James deVente - East Carolina University
Steven Mouro - East Carolina University
David Collier - East Carolina University
Devon Kuehn - East Carolina University
George A. Kelley - Boise State University
Lindsey Rossa - East Carolina University
Caitlyn Ollmann - East Carolina University
Linda E. May - East Carolina University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of clinical exercise physiology, Vol.15(1), pp.2-7
DOI: 10.31189/2165-7629-15.1.2
ISSN: 2165-6193
eISSN: 2165-7629
Language: English
Date published: 03/2026
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
Record Identifier: 9985147186102771

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