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A large Danish study suggests that prolonged standing, walking, and forward bending during pregnancy may increase miscarriage risk. Learn what the findings mean for pregnant workers.
Many women continue working throughout pregnancy, often in jobs that require long hours of standing, frequent walking, or repeated bending. While staying active is generally encouraged during pregnancy, physically demanding work has long raised questions about whether it could affect pregnancy outcomes, especially during the early weeks.
A new nationwide study from Denmark offers valuable insights into this issue. Researchers examined more than 800,000 pregnancies to explore whether occupational standing, walking, and forward bending were linked to a higher risk of miscarriage. Their findings suggest that these workplace activities may contribute to an increased risk, particularly when they involve repeated forward bending.
Although the research does not prove that these activities directly cause miscarriage, it provides important evidence that employers, healthcare professionals, and pregnant workers should consider when discussing workplace safety.
The study followed 803,829 pregnancies among 475,312 employed women in Denmark between 2004 and 2018. Unlike many previous studies that relied on questionnaires, this research used detailed national health records and occupational data to estimate how much time women spent standing, walking, and bending during their workday.
Researchers matched each participant's occupation with a pregnancy specific job exposure model that estimated the average amount of time workers in similar roles spent performing these physical activities. Pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages, were identified using national medical records.
This large population and high quality data make the study one of the most comprehensive investigations into workplace physical activity and miscarriage risk.
The analysis found that all three workplace activities were associated with a higher risk of miscarriage.
The strongest association was observed with forward bending, followed by walking, while standing showed a smaller increase in risk.
Researchers estimated that each additional hour spent performing these activities during an eight hour workday was linked to a gradual increase in miscarriage risk. Women whose jobs required more forward bending appeared to experience the greatest increase.
Interestingly, the study also found that women who had recently been absent from work showed even stronger associations between physical work demands and miscarriage. This may indicate that women already experiencing health challenges could be more vulnerable to physically demanding work during pregnancy.
Scientists are still investigating the biological mechanisms behind these findings. However, several possible explanations exist.
Long periods of standing may reduce blood flow to the uterus because blood tends to pool in the legs after remaining upright for extended periods.
Frequent walking and continuous movement may increase physical strain, especially during demanding work shifts that allow little opportunity for rest.
Repeated forward bending may temporarily reduce blood flow or place additional pressure on the abdomen, potentially affecting placental circulation during the earliest stages of pregnancy.
Researchers also believe that physically demanding work may increase stress hormones or trigger other physiological responses that could influence pregnancy, although these mechanisms require further investigation.
It is important to remember that miscarriage is usually caused by chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be prevented. Workplace activity represents only one possible factor among many that may influence pregnancy outcomes.
Many earlier studies examining physical work during pregnancy produced conflicting results because they relied heavily on self reported information. Workers may unintentionally overestimate or underestimate how physically demanding their jobs are.
This Danish study addressed that limitation by using a pregnancy specific occupational exposure model supported by workplace measurements and expert evaluations instead of relying solely on personal recollection.
The researchers also included women from a wide range of occupations across Denmark, reducing the likelihood that the findings applied only to a single profession or industry.
Another strength was the ability to adjust for several important factors, including maternal age, education, previous miscarriages, number of previous births, and country of birth. These adjustments helped researchers isolate the relationship between occupational activity and miscarriage risk as accurately as possible.
The results do not suggest that every pregnant woman should stop working or avoid all physical activity.
Instead, they highlight the importance of evaluating workplace demands during early pregnancy. Jobs that involve prolonged standing, continuous walking, or repeated forward bending may benefit from temporary adjustments that reduce physical strain.
Healthcare providers may also use this information when advising pregnant patients who work in physically demanding occupations such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, childcare, or warehouse operations.
The study encourages employers to consider practical workplace accommodations, particularly during the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage is naturally highest.
Although this research is one of the largest studies of its kind, it does not prove that standing, walking, or bending directly causes miscarriage. The findings show an association, meaning the activities were linked with a higher risk but cannot be confirmed as the sole reason for pregnancy loss.
The researchers also acknowledged several limitations. They did not have complete information about individual smoking habits during early pregnancy, which is a known risk factor for miscarriage. While they used statistical methods to account for smoking, some uncertainty remains.
The study also could not fully account for every workplace exposure. Factors such as heavy lifting, night shifts, chemical exposure, stress, and existing medical conditions may also influence pregnancy outcomes.
In addition, the researchers estimated physical activity based on occupational job titles rather than measuring every woman's daily movements. Although the job exposure model was specifically developed for pregnant workers and is considered highly reliable, individual experiences may still differ.
Because of these limitations, the findings should be viewed as evidence that supports caution rather than definitive proof of cause and effect.
If your job involves prolonged standing, continuous walking, or frequent bending, consider discussing your work duties with your healthcare provider as early as possible.
Simple workplace adjustments may help reduce physical strain, including:
Every pregnancy is different. Recommendations should always be based on your personal health, pregnancy history, and medical advice.
The study highlights the importance of creating pregnancy-friendly workplaces. Employers can support pregnant workers by reviewing job demands during the early stages of pregnancy and making reasonable adjustments when necessary.
Possible accommodations include reducing prolonged standing, limiting repetitive bending tasks, rotating physically demanding duties, allowing additional rest breaks, and encouraging open communication between employees and supervisors.
These measures may improve comfort and potentially reduce unnecessary physical strain without affecting workplace productivity.
This study found a small association between longer periods of occupational standing and miscarriage risk. However, standing alone has not been proven to directly cause pregnancy loss.
Regular exercise and walking recommended by a healthcare provider are generally considered safe during healthy pregnancies. This research focused on occupational walking performed for many hours during physically demanding work shifts, which differs from recreational walking.
Researchers observed the strongest and most consistent association with repeated forward bending. More studies are needed to understand exactly why this activity showed a stronger relationship than standing or walking.
No. Most women can continue working safely during pregnancy. The study suggests that some physically demanding jobs may benefit from workplace adjustments, especially during the first trimester.
Speak with your healthcare provider and employer about possible accommodations. Small changes to work routines may help reduce physical strain while allowing you to continue working safely.
This large Danish study adds important evidence to the ongoing discussion about workplace safety during pregnancy. Researchers found that prolonged occupational standing, walking, and particularly forward bending were associated with a higher risk of miscarriage. While the findings do not establish direct causation, they suggest that physically demanding work deserves careful consideration during early pregnancy.
For pregnant employees, the study reinforces the value of discussing workplace activities with healthcare providers and seeking reasonable adjustments when needed. For employers, it highlights the importance of providing supportive working conditions that promote maternal health and wellbeing.
As additional research becomes available, future studies may help establish clearer guidance on safe activity levels and identify practical thresholds for occupational physical demands during pregnancy.
Frankel HN, Sejbaek CS, Flachs EM, et al. Occupational standing, walking and forward bending during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage: A Danish nationwide, register-based, cohort study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Published 2025. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110712.
This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Every pregnancy is unique, and individual risk factors vary. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and have concerns about your work activities, consult your obstetrician, midwife, or another qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your daily routine or employment responsibilities.