Maternal and fetal responses to a maternal aerobic exercise program

doi:10.1016/0002-9378(83)90576-8

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Volume 145, Issue 6, 15 March 1983, Pages 702-707

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(83)90576-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

To investigate the effects of exercise on the pregnant woman and her fetus, 20 pregnant women were studied during the second and third trimesters. Twelve of the women participated in an aerobic exercise program while eight women did not perform any regular exercise and served as a control group. On the basis of submaximal exercise test results, an 18% improvement and a 4% decline in absolute aerobic capacity (liters of oxygen per minute) were observed in the exercise and control groups, respectively. Functional aerobic capacity (milliliters of oxygen per kilogram per minute) rose 8% in the exercise group and declined 10% in the control group. A small but significant rise in fetal heart rate was measured during the exercise sessions. A comparison of pregnancy outcome of the two groups showed no differences in labor duration, Apgar scores, or fetal growth.

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Exercise during pregnancy has been shown to be associated with improved health outcomes both during and after pregnancy for mother and fetus across the lifespan. Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour during pregnancy have been recommended by many researchers and clinicians-alike. It is thought that the placenta plays a central role in mediating any positive or negative pregnancy outcomes. The positive outcomes obtained through prenatal exercise are postulated to result from exercise-induced regulation of maternal physiology and placental development. Considerable research has been performed to understand the placenta's role in pregnancy-related diseases, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus. However, little research has examined the potential for healthy lifestyle and behavioural changes to improve placental growth, development, and function. While the placenta represents the critical maternal-fetal interface responsible for all gas, nutrient, and waste exchange between the mother and fetus, the impact of exercise during pregnancy on placental biology and function is not well known. This review will focus on prenatal exercise and its promising influence on the structures of the maternal-fetal interface, with particular emphasis on the placenta. Potential molecular mechanistic hypotheses are presented to aid future investigations of prenatal exercise and placental health.
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The majority of the identified studies examined the association between maternal physical activity and FHR. In total, 44 such studies were conducted [25–67], including 33 pertaining to acute exposure and 11 concerning chronic exposure to physical activity (Table S8). Most of them assessed the overall baseline FHR.
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Exercise during pregnancy enhances vascular function via epigenetic repression of Ca<inf>V</inf>1.2 channel in offspring of hypertensive rats
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Studies suggest that cardiovascular function in offspring can be epigenetically programmed by environmental changes during pregnancy. Ca_V1.2 channel plays a major role in the regulation of the vascular tone. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of exercise during pregnancy on Ca_V1.2 channel functional remodeling in hypertensive offspring.
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Maternal and fetal responses to a maternal aerobic exercise program

Abstract

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol

Respir. Physiol

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol

Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol

Effect of exercise on cardiac output and distribution of uterine blood flow in pregnant ewes

J. Appl. Physiol

Effect of experimental alterations in excess weight on aerobic capacity and distance running performance

Med. Sci. Sports

A clinical and physiological study of pregnancy in a material from northern Sweden. V. The results of work tests during and after pregnancy

Acta Soc. Med. Ups

Physical training during pregnancy and lactation

Phys. Sportsmed

Fetal heart rate response to maternal exercise testing

Phys. Sportsmed

Gynecological survey of female athletes

J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness

The influence of physical training during pregnancy on physical work capacity and circulatory parameters

Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest

The physical work capacity of the expectant mother and its effect on pregnancy, labor, and the newborn

Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet

Heart volumes and physical fitness of parturients

Ann. Clin. Res

Arterial noradrenaline concentration during exercise in relation to relative work levels

Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest

Maternal and fetal catecholamine responses to maternal exercise in the normal and compromised pregnant ewe