PURPOSE OF THE STUDY-

           Pregnancy is a physiological condition involving specific regulation of body weight. Maternal obesity and gestational weight gain that has become more common nowadays lead to the poor obstetric outcome. Evidence from scientific studies shows the important role of physical activity in health promotion by improving quality of life and prevention and control of various diseases.                                                                                               Regular moderate physical activity may improve risk profiles in pregnant women. A few decades ago, pregnant women were advised to reduce their physical activities and even interrupt their occupational work especially in last trimester of pregnancy. However, since 1990, experts have admitted the positive effect of regular physical activity during pregnancy and encourage it, unless it is contraindicated.                                               Maintaining light to moderate physical activity during an uncomplicated pregnancy provides various benefits for women‘s health like a decrease in gestational diabetes mellitus, decrease in weight gain, less fluid retention, decrease in the incidence of gestational hypertension and cardio-vascular stress and thrombosis. It also increases the chance of onset of spontaneous labor and normal vaginal delivery and reduces the rate of Cesarean delivery. Also, physical activity helps to make women self-confident and reduce the risk of post-partum depression.                                 

However, some studies show that strenuous physical activity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of abortions and premature delivery.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Considering the persistent controversies on the above topic, the current study aims to find the association between physical activity during pregnancy and occurrence of adverse maternal and child health outcome.