Health Benefits of Physical Activity during Pregnancy

Abstract

While early studies on the effects of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy were concerned about possible harm to the mother or fetus, these fears have not been substantiated. Instead, a growing body of literature has documented several health benefits related to pregnancy LTPA. The purpose of this article was to synthesize evidence from epidemiological studies conducted in the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia on the benefits of LTPA and exercise during pregnancy with regard to maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and child health. We focused on studies evaluating relations between pregnancy LTPA and gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, excessive gestational weight gain, birth weight, timing of delivery, and child body composition. The bulk of evidence supports beneficial effects of pregnancy LTPA on each outcome; however, most previous studies have been observational and used self-reported LTPA at only one or two time points in pregnancy. Limitations of the current knowledge base and suggestions for future research on the health benefits of LTPA during pregnancy are provided.

Preeclampsia and Diabetes

“…GDM and preeclampsia share many risk factors, including advanced maternal age, nulliparity, multifetal pregnancies, non-white race/ethnicity and pre-pregnancy obesity [64, 65]. GDM is often listed as a risk factor for the development of preeclampsia; however, previous research on the co-occurrence of the two conditions has often been underpowered and/or failed to account for shared risk factors such as obesity.…”

Perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity during pregnancy: A literature review of quantitative and qualitative evidence

“…1,2 Participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy is especially important to prevent excessive weight gain, 3 increase fitness, 4 reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, 5,6 lower anxiety, reduce depression and improve body Image. 7-10 Furthermore, numerous child health benefits have also been demonstrated in the literature.…”

“…7-10 Furthermore, numerous child health benefits have also been demonstrated in the literature. 3,11,12 However, pregnancy is a critical period in women's life that is associated with significant physical, psychological and behavmentioned correlates and predictors of physical inactivity during pregnancy. 16,21 As in the general population, personal, social and environmental factors can act as barriers to LTPA participation, but many specific barriers such as the pregnancy physical changes and the maternal concerns about the safety of exercise during pregnancy have been cited as preventing healthy pregnant women from participating and maintaining adequate LTPA levels during this period.…”

Pre‐pregnant body mass index and recreational physical activity: effects on perinatal mortality in a prospective pregnancy cohort

“…As a predictor, obese women do seem to have increased risk of perinatal losses, and should be monitored closely during pregnancy. Current guidelines on physical activity in pregnancy do not differentiate between pre-pregnant BMI categories, only between those who have been physically active before pregnancy and those who have not (41). Given the many comorbidities associated with obesity, guidelines on physical activity may need to be customized for obese women.…”