Beginning regular exercise in early pregnancy: effect on fetoplacental growth

Article Abstract:

Pregnant women who begin weight-bearing exercises can enhance their baby's growth rate. This was the conclusion of a study of 46 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to no exercise or a program of weight-bearing exercise three to five times a week for the rest of their pregnancy.

Author: Clapp, James F., III, Kim, Hyungjin, Burciu, Brindusa, Lopez, Beth
Fetus, Growth, Fetal development

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The one-year morphometric and neurodevelopmental outcome of the offspring of women who continued to exercise regularly throughout pregnancy

Article Abstract:

Women who regularly exercise during pregnancy may have slightly smaller babies than sedentary women, but their infants are indistinguishable at one year of age. Researchers compared 52 exercising pregnant women and 52 women who were only occasionally active. Exercising women gave birth to babies that were an average of 0.2 kg lighter, and had significantly less body fat than children of sedentary women. At one year of age, however, the children were equivalent in weight, height, psychomotor skills, and mental development.

Author: Clapp, James F., III, Lopez, Beth, Simonian, Susan, Appleby-Wineberg, Sara, Harcar-Sevcik, Rose
Women's fitness, Prenatal influences

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Neonatal behavioral profile of the offspring of women who continued to exercise regularly throughout pregnancy

Article Abstract:

Physical exercise during pregnancy may have subtle effects on the baby's central nervous system. Researchers gave behavioral tests to the newborn babies of 34 women who exercised throughout their pregnancy and 31 women who did not. Five days after birth, the babies of the women who exercised performed better on two behavioral tests than the other babies. They were better able to orient to environmental stimuli and were more likely to quiet themselves after a sound or light stimulus. Other studies have shown that five-year-old children of exercising mothers scored higher on tests of language and intelligence.

Author: Clapp, James F., III, Lopez, Beth, Harcar-Sevcik, Rose
Psychological aspects, Infants (Newborn), Newborn infants

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Subjects list: Health aspects, Behavior, Pregnant women, Exercise
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