Large Danish study highlights possible link between physical demands at work and pregnancy outcomes

Pregnant women whose jobs involve prolonged standing, frequent walking or repeated forward bending may face a higher risk of miscarriage, according to a new study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

The research, led by **Hannah Nørtoft Frankel from Bispebjerg Hospital, examined whether physical activities commonly performed during work could influence miscarriage risk during pregnancy.

Researchers analysed health and employment data from 803,829 pregnancies among 475,312 women in Denmark between 2004 and 2018. The study focused on three workplace activities — standing, walking and forward bending of 30 degrees or more.

The findings showed that all three types of occupational physical activity were linked with an increased risk of miscarriage.

According to the study, each additional hour of work-related activity was associated with a higher miscarriage risk. The adjusted risk increased by 3 per cent with occupational standing, 18 per cent with occupational walking and 36 per cent with occupational forward bending.

The researchers also observed that women who had taken leave from work in the previous week showed stronger associations between these workplace activities and miscarriage risk.

A clearer exposure-response pattern was seen with forward bending, meaning that greater exposure was linked with a higher risk. However, at the highest levels of standing and walking exposure, the association appeared to decrease, which researchers said requires further investigation.

The authors noted that the findings should be interpreted carefully because other factors may also influence pregnancy outcomes. They highlighted the need for additional studies that include information such as smoking habits and other maternal health conditions to better understand the relationship.

The study adds to growing evidence that workplace conditions during pregnancy may play an important role in maternal health. Researchers suggest that better assessment of physical demands at work and appropriate support for pregnant employees could help reduce potential risks and promote safer pregnancies.

Healthcare experts advise pregnant women with physically demanding jobs to discuss workplace concerns with their healthcare providers, especially if they experience discomfort, fatigue or have additional pregnancy-related risk factors.