Aim: The aim of this study was to answer the question of whether physical activity during pregnancy and participation in childbirth classes prepare women for childbirth; further, does it influence the levels of perceived stress and the occurrence of depressed mood.
Methods: 100 women participated in the study. Half of the women had taken part in the childbirth classes before giving birth. A questionnaires of own authorship, Edinburgh Postnatal Depressioni Scale (EPDS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were used.
Results: There was no significant relationship observed between participation in childbirth classes and the results of EPDS and PSS-10. The mood of women after childbirth correlated significantly with the level of stress in the whole study group (p<0.0001). Best mean well-being and lowest mean perceived stress were observed in women who stayed in a relationship (p =0.0029, p = 0.0008). Women physically active during pregnancy were also characterized by better mood and lower levels of perceived stress (6.7 and 14.4 vs. 8.4 and 16.0). Among women exercising during pregnancy the participants in childbirth classes was far more numerous (p<0.0001).
Conclusions: Declared physical activity during pregnancy was linked to lower levels of stress experienced by women and less severe depressive symptoms after childbirth,; espe- cially in the group of childbirth classes participants.