Prenatal Exercise Heart-Healthy for Moms- and Babies-to-Be
Making News:
Experts often tout the benefits of regular exercise for healthy, active women during pregnancy. But what happens to the fetus during physical activity? A pilot study in The FASEB Journal (2008; 22 [1175], 3), published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, has found that women aren’t the only ones to benefit from a workout.
The small study followed six pregnant women through gestational weeks 28, 32 and 36 and sought to determine whether fetuses exposed to exercise reaped any benefits from exercise. The women were split equally into an exercise group and a nonexercise control group. The exercise group performed moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise for 30 minutes three times per week.
“As we anticipated, we have found significantly decreased fetal heart rates in exercise-exposed fetuses in the same activity state and at the same gestational age compared to non-exercise-exposed fetuses,” stated the authors. “These results imply an exciting potential benefit of maternal exercise on fetal cardiac autonomic nervous system.”
The authors said they planned to continue their study, recruiting more pregnant women, since further research on a larger sample size would be required to fully understand the effects of prenatal exercise on the fetus.For the latest research, statistics, sample classes, and more, "Like" IDEA on Facebook here.
July 2008
© 2008 by IDEA Health & Fitness Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
Get the award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal delivered to your door every month!
Related Questions
CEC Courses
 |
Extreme Interval Training
In this course you'll learn goal-focused intervals and over 50 dynamic exercises and drills to create extensive and intensive training formats. |
 |
Cut to the Core
This is a raw, unedited video filmed live at the 2009 IDEA World Fitness Convention™. Cut to the Core is packed full of core-focused exercises that aim to improve the way you look, feel and live. |
 |
September 2011 IDEA Fitness Journal Quiz 4: Plyometric Training
This continuing education quiz is an in-depth look at plyometric training. Plyometric exercises—jumping, bounding, hopping, arm pushing, and catching and throwing weighted objects such as machine balls—are movements that involve rapid eccentric and concentric muscle actions. |
Find a Personal Trainer
Article Comments
On Oct 28, 2012
Add Comment