Climbing during pregnancy may be safer than long assumed, study finds

Climbing during the third trimester was not linked to higher rates of self-reported pregnancy complications in a global study.

The findings provide direct evidence on an activity pregnant women have traditionally been advised to avoid because of concerns about falls.

Researchers surveyed 692 people about climbing during pregnancy, falls, maternal and baby health outcomes and their return to the activity after giving birth.

The study recorded almost 64,000 hours of climbing among participants.

During that time, participants reported 155 “hard falls”, defined as falls or catches forceful enough to be remembered or cause concern.

The rate of adverse clinical events, meaning negative medical outcomes affecting the pregnancy or baby, was 0.03 per 1,000 hours of climbing exposure. All babies in the study were born live.

Researchers found no significant difference in pregnancy or foetal health outcomes between participants who stopped climbing at or before 27 weeks and those who continued beyond that point.

The findings suggest continuing the activity into the third trimester was not associated with increased self-reported complications among those surveyed.

The survey also found 96 per cent of participants said that, despite concerns about climbing while pregnant, they felt “happy” or “very happy” that they had continued.

Margie Davenport, professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation and lead author of the study, said the preliminary findings challenge an assumption about maternal exercise that had been based on opinion rather than research.

She said: “For decades we have restricted pregnant women from activities like climbing due to concern for their health and the health of the baby, but our evidence suggests it’s beneficial for both mental and physical health.”