Pregnancy and exercise - exercise and pregnancy: a short review

Article Abstract:

Two basic issues are involved when considering pregnancy and exercise: the effect exercise has on the outcome of the pregnancy and the effect pregnancy has on the ability to do exercise. Providing that a woman is in good health and has no complications of pregnancy, moderate exercise can lead to an improved pregnancy course. In fact, exercise during pregnancy, specifically exercise requiring rhythmic motions and aerobic exercises not requiring balance, prepare the body to endure the stress of labor and delivery. Exercise also promotes a positive emotional state and prevents some of the typical problems experienced during pregnancy, such as backaches, leg cramps and swollen legs. However, certain athletic activities such as riding, water-skiing, surfing and contact sports can cause injuries because of the increased weight and altered shape of the body. Pregnant women who change altitudes are at risk for low blood oxygen. It may take a few days before the body's natural adaptive process, which is set in motion when the air becomes less saturated with oxygen, adjusts to the new altitude. During exercise, the body's temperature is increased and the blood is redistributed to working muscles and skin. This could theoretically have a deleterious effect on the growing fetus by reducing the available oxygen, altering the amount of oxygen able to bind to blood hemoglobin, and increasing core body temperature. It is not known whether the redistribution of blood is enough to damage the fetus. Whether pregnancy increases exercise performance is controversial. It is concluded that moderate exercise is not harmful to the mother or her fetus. If a woman chooses to start exercising during pregnancy, she should work up to her exercise goals slowly. Exercise should be stopped if certain complications, such as threatened miscarriage, preeclampsia, or growth retardation develop. Athletes who are already engaged in strenuous competitive exercise should have weekly ultrasounds of the developing fetus to confirm that it is growing properly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Physiological aspects, Exercise, Exercise physiology, Women's fitness, Pregnancy

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The obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancy in women with a previous history of infertility: a prospective study

Article Abstract:

Because research concerning the outcome of pregnancy for previously infertile women has produced inconsistent results, a prospective study was undertaken of all women attending a prenatal clinic in England between December 1987 and September 1989. One hundred fourteen women with histories of unexplained infertility for longer than one year (index group), and 114 age-matched pregnant women without such histories (control group), were selected. One woman in the control group underwent an elective abortion after 17 weeks' gestation because of a diagnosis of Down syndrome in the fetus. Comparisons of labor and delivery were performed for the remaining 113 pairs. The index group had a higher rate of emergency cesarean section (15 percent) than controls (6 percent), which upon analysis yielded an increased risk for this procedure of 2.43. Of all cesarean sections performed, which included both elective and emergency procedures, 22 percent were performed on the index subjects and 11 percent were carried out on the controls. Infertile women had a risk of 0.82 of a spontaneous vaginal delivery. No differences were seen between the groups in birthweight or the proportion of infants who were small for gestational age (birthweight at or below the 10th percentile). This study is the first to investigate obstetric outcomes in previously infertile women that uses age-matched controls, thus eliminating the confounding effect of greater age among infertile women. The increase in the emergency cesarean section rate for previously infertile women was not due to age or parity (number of previous children borne), but was the result of several factors, possibly involving the obstetrician's heightened awareness to events such as fetal distress. Women with histories of infertility can be reassured that their obstetric outcome is not likely to be different from women without such histories, with the exception of a higher risk for emergency cesarean section. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Infertility, Female, Female infertility

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Short interpregnancy intervals and the risk of adverse birth outcomes among five racial/ethnic groups in the United States

Article Abstract:

Research indicates that short intervals between pregnancies have a negative impact on birth outcomes. In studies that controlled for factors such as education, age, prenatal care and previous premature delivery, women with six-month intervals had a 50%-80% higher risk of low infant birth weight and a 30%-90% higher risk of preterm birth of less than 32 weeks.

Risk factors, Premature birth, Birth weight, Ethnic groups

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