Key result
Maternal physical activity and a bout of moderate exercise during the third trimester did not have a deleterious effect on fetal haemodynamics or influence fetal cardiovascular variables.
Why the study?
Does exercise training during pregnancy influence fetal cardiovascular responses to an exercise stimulus?
RCT (n=52)
Does exercise training during pregnancy influence fetal cardiovascular responses to an exercise stimulus?
Maternal exercise training during pregnancy does not negatively impact fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics in response to acute moderate exercise during the third trimester.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports moderate third-trimester exercise counseling; extends RCT evidence affirming fetal hemodynamic safety.
In this study, the effects of maternal physical activity level on several fetal haemodynamic parameters such as pulsatility index of the fetal middle cerebral and umbilical arteries and cerebral-to-fetal ratio, as well as on fetal heart rate responses to one bout of moderate exercise (20 min cycle-ergometry at approximately 60% of age-predicted maximum heart rate) during the third pregnancy trimester were assessed. 26 Sedentary and 26 physically active gravidae aged 29 (3) and 30 (2) years, respectively, were studied. Maternal exercise did not have a deleterious effect on fetal haemodynamics (particularly, cerebral-to-fetal ratio remained within normal limits with exercise). Overall, maternal training status did not influence the fetal cardiovascular variables studied.
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Barakat et al. (2009) conducted an RCT in Pregnancy (n=52). Maternal physical activity vs. Sedentary lifestyle was evaluated on Fetal haemodynamic parameters (pulsatility index of fetal middle cerebral and umbilical arteries, cerebral-to-fetal ratio) and fetal heart rate responses. Maternal physical activity and a bout of moderate exercise during the third trimester did not have a deleterious effect on fetal haemodynamics or influence fetal cardiovascular variables.
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