Physical activity during pregnancy and maternal-child health outcomes: a systematic literature review

Abstract

A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the effects of physical activity during pregnancy on selected maternal-child health outcomes. The search included articles published from 1980 to 2005 in the MEDLINE and LILACS databases using key words such as physical activity, physical exercise, pregnancy, and gestation. The methodological quality of 37 selected articles was evaluated. It appears to be a consensus that some light-to-moderate physical activity is not a risk factor and may even be considered a protective factor for some outcomes. However, some studies found an association between specific activities (e.g., climbing stairs or standing for long periods) and inadequate birth weight, prematurity, and miscarriage. Few studies found an association between physical activity and maternal weight gain, mode of delivery, or fetal development. Further research is needed to fill these gaps and provide guidelines on the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity during pregnancy.

Maternal obesity and offspring body composition by indirect methods: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…According to observational studies, carried out in high income countries, maternal lifestyle, dietary habits, physical activity and work hours could influence offspring size at birth, and weight development in childhood 1,2,3 . Pre-pregnancy and gestational maternal body composition may impact offspring body fat mass at birth, in childhood and in adolescence, and may also predict the risk of obesity in adulthood 4,5,6,7,8 .…”

Physical activity, health-related quality of life and depression during pregnancy

“…Several studies suggest leisure physical activity may have beneficial effects on maternal health by reducing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, preterm birth and preventing excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy 6,7,8,9 . Nevertheless, other studies either failed to demonstrate important benefits or risks 10 or documented adverse effects of exercise in pregnancy to the mother or fetus 11 .…”

Prediction of gestational weight gain – a biopsychosocial model

“…Indeed, some investigators have argued that GWG may be more usefully conceptualised using a biopsychosocial model, which explicitly recognises the individual and interacting influences of biomedical, psychological and social factors (9)(10)(11) . Several reviews have highlighted numerous gaps and inconsistencies in the evidence base regarding the impact of behavioural and psychological well-being factors on GWG (1,9,12,13) . In particular, the IOM concluded that depressive symptoms are associated with both low and high GWG, but that the evidence on whether and how other measures of psychological well-being impact on GWG is inconclusive (1) .…”