Type of delivery is not affected by light resistance and toning exercise training during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Physical activity during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…The review authors then read the full text if GDM was mentioned in the abstract. Finally, six randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for analysis: five trials were performed in developed countries, one in the USA,25 one in Norway,26 one in Australia27 and two in Spain28 29; and the only trial performed in developing countries was in India 30. Of the 11 excluded trials, 9 had deficient or missing data for the incidence of GDM31–39 and 2 had pregnant women with previous GDM 40 41…”

“…All of these RCTs’ interventions translated into METs per intervention in the range 9300–27772.5 25 26. Five trials started in the second trimester,25–27 29 30 and the remaining one started in the first trimester (6 gestational week)28; all interventions persisted to the third trimester25 26 28–30 or until delivery 27. The subjects in none of the control groups exercised regularly during pregnancy, except in one trial where the controls were offered a conventional antenatal exercise (walking for half an hour in the morning and/or evening) 30…”

The Effect of Aerobic Exercises on Maternal Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…The results showed no significant difference between the two groups regarding pregnancy duration, infant's weight, and 1-and 5-minute Apgar T-test, Df = 118, P = 562 scores (26). In the same line, Barakat et al found no significant relationship between doing exercises and duration of pregnancy (27). Also, Hickman concluded that doing physical activities during pregnancy had no impacts on fetal growth and other pregnancy outcomes.…”

Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes: 2016 evidence summary from the IOC expert group meeting, Lausanne. Part 2—the effect of exercise on the fetus, labour and birth

“…Pertinent to successful vaginal birth, there were no differences between the two groups in the cross-sectional area of the urogenital hiatus (the opening through which the fetus passes). In pregnant women studied at 37-week gestation, compared with non-exercisers, those who exercised 30 or more minutes three times per week had a larger levator hiatus area at rest and during pelvic floor muscle contraction 78. Neither exercising the pelvic floor muscles specifically during pregnancy, nor pelvic muscle strength and endurance at midpregnancy, increases the risk of operative delivery or severe perineal lacerations 79.…”

“…The structures of the pelvic floor include the bony pelvis, muscular and connective tissue supports and the endopelvic fascia 78. The muscular supports include the pelvic diaphragm, made up of the levator ani muscle (LAM) and coccygeus muscle as well as the urogenital diaphragm (also known as the perineal membrane), comprised of smaller perineal muscles.…”