Ejercicio físico y los resultados del embarazo

Abstract

Introduction The beneficial effects of physical exercise on health in general are well known. However, less is known about the effects of exercise on the highly important process of pregnancy. The greatest uncertainty concerns whether both processes —exercise and pregnancy— can coexist, without maternal-fetal conflicts and without altering pregnancy outcome. Currently, an increasing number of women wish to continue some form of exercise during pregnancy. Objective To determine the influence of moderate aerobic exercise in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on pregnancy outcome. Material and method We performed a randomized, controlled, open trial in 142 pregnant women. There were 72 women in the treatment group and 70 on the control group. The maternal variables studied were gestational age, weight gain, oral glucose load (O'Sullivan's test), type of delivery, hemoglobin level before delivery, and mean blood pressure during the course of pregnancy. The fetal variables studied were birth weight, length, head circumference, Apgar test at 1 and 5 min, and umbilical cord pH value. Results No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p < 0.05). However, in the treatment group (exercise), mean (± SD) maternal weight gain (11.4 ± 3.7 kg) and birth weight (3165.3 ± 431.8 g) were lower than in the control group (12.3 ± 3.3 kg and 3307.4 ± 474.2 g). Conclusion Moderate aerobic exercise during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy seems not to alter pregnancy outcomes.