Aim: To assess the effect of maternal physical activity during pregnancy on abnormal fetal growth.
Methods: The study group of 166 women in gestational week 6-8 exercised regularly three days per week at submaximal intensity during their entire pregnancy and the control group of 168 women received standard antenatal care. The main outcomes were macrosomia and intrauterine growth restriction.
Results: The study group had a lower frequency of macrosomia in newborns (6.0% vs 12.5%, P=0.048) and gestational diabetes (1.8% vs 8.3%, P=0.008) than the control-group, but there was no significant difference in intrauterine growth restriction (7.2% vs 6.5%). There was also no significant differences in other perinatal outcomes.
Conclusions: The beneficial effect of maternal physical activity on fetal growth may be caused the impact of aerobic exercise on glucose tolerance. Fitness trainers and kinesiologists, as well as health care providers, should be educated on the benefits of regular exercise during pregnancy and safe physical exercise for pregnant women.