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Exercising Up To The End of Pregnancy
A new study carried out by Polytechnic University of Madrid
has revealed that exercising up to the end of pregnancy has no
harmful effect on the
weight or size of the foetus .
"An exercise regime carried out during
the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not harm the
health of the foetus", said Jonatan R. Ruiz, researcher at
the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and principal author of this
study, who has coordinated a team from the Polytechnic University
of Madrid in collaboration with the Swedish centre.
These findings highlight the benefits for the health of the baby
and the mother when a physically-active lifestyle is maintained
throughout pregnancy.
160 healthy women between the ages of 25 and 35 took part in
the study, all of whom had sedentary habits and no risk of premature
birth.
Of this group of women, half followed an exercise regime under
the supervision of experts in Physical Activity and Sports Science
in collaboration with the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit of Hospital
Severo Ochoa in Madrid.
The researchers used multiple variables to assess the health
of the foetus in women, and they analysed the effect of the training
programme carried out during the second and third trimester of
pregnancy on the weight and size of the foetus.
"Body size and gestational age, as well as other health
parameters, were similar in the group of women who followed the
exercise regime compared to those who did no form of physical
activity during pregnancy, which indicates that exercise poses
no threat to the health of the foetus", Ruiz said.
The study appears in the International Journal of Obesity .
Reference
Source 202
November 20, 2009
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