Exercise During Pregnancy is Good For Your (And Your Baby's) Heart

Filed in archive Pregnancy Fitness on April 11, 2008

Just because you're pregnant, it doesn't mean that you'll have to stop exercise. In fact, studies show that exercise is good not only for you, the pregnant mother, but it also has a positive impact on your baby's health.

The researchers found:

* there were significantly lower heart rates among fetuses that had been exposed to maternal exercise. The heart rates among non-exposed fetuses were higher, regardless of the fetal activity or the gestational age.

* at each stage of gestation the differences between the fetal heart rates of the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.05 using a t-test with equal variances).

* the analysis of short- and long-term heart variability at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation in exercise-exposed vs. non-exercise-exposed fetuses were statistically different at 32 wks. This trend is still seen at 36 wks, however it is not significant.

According to Dr. May, "This study suggests that a mother who exercises may not only be imparting health benefits to her own heart, but to her developing baby's heart as well. As a result of this pilot study, we plan to continue the study to include more pregnant women."

So whether it's yoga, pilates, dancing, brisk walking or swimming, get into an exercise routine. If you haven't been that physically active prior to pregnancy and are unsure what activity to start, do consult your doctor before taking up strenuous exercises.