The belief that pregnant women should avoid exercise and be cautious about movement is a misconception. Proper health management is important from the time of pregnancy planning. PACEN highlights that advanced maternal age is a significant high-risk factor, negatively impacting maternal and newborn health. Compared to women in their 20s, those aged 40 and above have a 1.6 times higher rate of preterm births and a 1.5 times higher rate of newborns admitted to intensive care units.
It has been found that obesity has a more negative impact on the health of pregnant women and newborns than gestational diabetes, suggesting that weight loss is necessary starting from the pregnancy planning stage.
In South Korea, childbirth trends show an increase in the average age of mothers (from 30.6 years in 2007 to 33.6 years in 2023) and an increase in high-risk pregnancies due to factors like multiple births and preterm deliveries. However, social focus remains primarily on the ability to conceive rather than on the risk factors and prognosis of high-risk pregnancies.
Based on a study by PACEN, analyzing data from 3,685,817 first-time mothers from 2005 to 2019, there is an observable increase in the risk of preterm birth and newborns’ ICU admission along with the mother’s age. For instance, compared to mothers aged 25-29, those aged 35-39 have a 1.3 times higher preterm birth rate, with rates increasing further in older age groups.
PACEN’s findings challenge the general notion that advanced maternal age can simply be managed, highlighting that it is indeed a significant high-risk factor. Additionally, a study of 3,078 first-time mothers from 2016 to 2020 showed that obese pregnant women have higher rates of emergency cesarean section (29.6%) and newborn complications than those with gestational diabetes.
Experts attending the clinical value assessment meeting emphasized the importance of maintaining a BMI of 18.5-22.9 kg/m² before pregnancy and that weight management efforts should begin as early as the planning stage. They also cautioned against excessive dieting during pregnancy and recommended weight gain within advised limits based on pre-pregnancy BMI.
It was also noted that the idea of avoiding exercise during pregnancy is incorrect. Unless there are specific medical reasons, moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily is recommended for average pregnant women. Experts suggest that education on weight management before and during pregnancy needs to be strengthened for couples preparing for pregnancy.