Moderate aerobic exercise during pregnancy, its relation to the behavior of the maternal blood

Abstract

A case-control design was used. Between May 1 of 2000 and September 30, 2001, a total of 480 women were interviewed at the first medical prenatal visit obtaining data on social, medical, employment, daily physical activity circumstances and consent. Participants were recruited from the Hospital Severo Ochoa in Leganés, Madrid.A total of 72 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies (singleton gestations) randomly assigned to an exercise group (case) and 70 pregnant women randomly assigned to a control group. The exercise program consisted of a series of 35 minute sessions, three times per week during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, conducted by a qualified instructor following the ACOG guidelines. Moderate exercise was defined as ≤1000 Kcal/wk of energy expenditure. For a statistical treatment, SPSS program was used.Multiple potential confounding variables were also assessed for a possible association with or influence on pregnancy outcome (age, parity, smoking, employment, standing posture, etc).Our results did not show any associations of the exercise during pregnancy with adverse or negative blood pressure outcome.
KEY WORDS: Exercise, pregnancy, blood pressure