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PREGNANT? Water class lowered requests for drugs
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Published: January 7, 2009
The question: Women sometimes turn to water aerobics in an attempt to stay fit while pregnant. How might this type of exercise affect mother and child?
This study: It involved 71 sedentary women who were no more than 20 weeks pregnant at the start of the study and were considered to have low-risk pregnancies. They were randomly assigned to participate in 50-minute water-aerobics classes three times a week for the rest of their pregnancy or to do no regular physical activity while pregnant.
Treadmill tests showed, on average, no cardiovascular improvement among the aerobics participants, and no differences were found between the groups in the length of pregnancy, length of labor or type of delivery.
Nor were differences found in birth weight and general health of their infants. However, about 65 percent of those who didn't exercise requested painkillers during delivery, compared with 27 percent of those who had done water aerobics.
Who may be affected? Pregnant women. Most women benefit from moderate exercise during pregnancy. Doctors often recommend a combination of aerobic, strength and flexibility exercises and advise against those that involve bouncing, jarring and leaping.
Caveats: Pregnant women should discuss exercise plans with their doctor and should report any problems, such as dizziness, heart palpitations or shortness of breath.
Find this study: Nov. 21 issue of Reproductive Health.
Learn more: www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy and www.nichd.nih.gov/health.
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