HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Magann, E. F. Articles by Newnham, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Magann, E. F. Articles by Newnham, J.

Antepartum, Intrapartum, and Neonatal Significance of Exercise on Healthy Low-Risk Pregnant Working Women

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Address reprint requests to: Everett F. Magann, MD, King Edward Memorial Hospital, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 374 Bagot Road KEMH, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia; E-mail: pmagann{at}obsgyn.uwa.edu.au.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of exercise on maternal and perinatal outcome in a low-risk healthy obstetric population.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of low-risk healthy women exercising during their pregnancy. An extensive questionnaire collected antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum patient information on 750 women. The women were divided into four groups based on exercise level during pregnancy.

RESULTS: There were no differences among groups for maternal demographic characteristics, antenatal illnesses, stress, social support, or smoking. Heavily exercising women were older (P = .042), had higher incomes (P = .001), and were exercising more at conception (P = .001). Women who did more exercise were more likely to need an induction of labor (P = .033, relative risk 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.05, 3.20), induction or augmentation with oxytocin (P = .015, relative risk 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.19, 1.97), and had longer first-stage labors (P = .032) resulting in longer total labors (P = .011). The difference in the length of first-stage labor was even greater if the no-exercise group was compared with the strongly exercising group (P = .009, relative risk 1.38, 95% confidence interval 0.16, 2.60). Fewer umbilical cord abnormalities (P = .034) were observed with exercise, but exercising women had more colds and flu (P = .008). Heavily exercising women had smaller infants (mean difference 86.5 g) compared with sedentary women.

CONCLUSION: Exercise in working women is associated with smaller babies, increased number of inductions and augmentations of labor, and longer labors. Colds and flu are more frequent in exercising women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Lewis, M. Avery, E. Jennings, N. Sherwood, B. Martinson, and A. L. Crain The Effect of Exercise During Pregnancy on Maternal Outcomes: Practical Implications for Practice American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, September 1, 2008; 2(5): 441 - 455. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Juhl, P. K. Andersen, J. Olsen, M. Madsen, T. Jorgensen, E. A. Nohr, and A.-M. N. Andersen Physical Exercise during Pregnancy and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Study within the Danish National Birth Cohort Am. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2008; 167(7): 859 - 866. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]