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Meta-Analysis
. 2006 Jul 19;2006(3):CD000180.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000180.pub2.

Aerobic exercise for women during pregnancy

M S Kramer  1 , S W McDonald
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Aerobic exercise for women during pregnancy

M S Kramer et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Physiological responses of the fetus (especially increase in heart rate) to single, brief bouts of maternal exercise have been documented frequently. Many pregnant women wish to engage in aerobic exercise during pregnancy but are concerned about possible adverse effects on the outcome of pregnancy.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of advising healthy pregnant women to engage in regular aerobic exercise (at least two to three times per week), or to increase or reduce the intensity, duration, or frequency of such exercise, on physical fitness, the course of labour and delivery, and the outcome of pregnancy.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (June 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005 January Week 1), EMBASE (1980 to 2005 January Week 1), Conference Papers Index (earliest to 2005 January Week 1), contacted researchers in the field and searched reference lists of retrieved articles.

Selection criteria: Acceptably controlled trials of prescribed exercise programs in healthy pregnant women.

Data collection and analysis: Both review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information.

Main results: Eleven trials involving 472 women were included. The trials were small and not of high methodologic quality. Five trials reported significant improvement in physical fitness in the exercise group, although inconsistencies in summary statistics and measures used to assess fitness prevented quantitative pooling of results. Seven trials reported on pregnancy outcomes. A pooled increased risk of preterm birth (relative risk 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35 to 9.57) with exercise, albeit statistically nonsignificant, does not cohere with the absence of effect on mean gestational age (weighted mean difference +0.3, 95% CI -0.2 to +0.9 weeks), while the results bearing on growth of the fetus are inconsistent. One small trial reported that physically fit women who increased the duration of exercise bouts in early pregnancy and then reduced that duration in later pregnancy gave birth to larger infants with larger placentas.

Authors' conclusions: Regular aerobic exercise during pregnancy appears to improve (or maintain) physical fitness. Available data are insufficient to infer important risks or benefits for the mother or infant. Larger and better trials are needed before confident recommendations can be made about the benefits and risk of aerobic exercise in pregnancy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

We certify that we have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with a direct financial interest in the subject matter of the review or our criticisms (e.g., employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, expert testimony).

Figures

1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 1 Small‐for‐gestational‐age birth.
1.2
1.2. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 2 Preterm birth.
1.3
1.3. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 3 Pre‐eclampsia.
1.4
1.4. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 4 Stillbirth.
1.5
1.5. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 5 Neonatal death.
1.6
1.6. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 6 Cesarean section.
1.7
1.7. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 7 Total gestational weight gain (kg).
1.8
1.8. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 8 Change in maternal fat mass (kg).
1.9
1.9. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 9 Change in maternal lean mass (kg).
1.10
1.10. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 10 Birthweight (g).
1.11
1.11. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 11 Birth fat mass (g).
1.12
1.12. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 12 Birth lean mass (g).
1.13
1.13. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 13 Birth % body fat.
1.14
1.14. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 14 Birth length (cm).
1.15
1.15. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 15 Birth head circumference (cm).
1.16
1.16. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 16 Birth ponderal index (g/cm3 x 100).
1.17
1.17. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 17 Gestational age (wk).
1.18
1.18. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 18 Placental volume at delivery (cm3).
1.19
1.19. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 19 Mid‐trimester placental growth rate (cm3/wk).
1.20
1.20. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 20 Placental weight at delivery (g).
1.21
1.21. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 21 Duration of labour, first stage (hr).
1.22
1.22. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 22 Duration of labour, second stage (min).
1.23
1.23. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 23 1‐minute Apgar score.
1.24
1.24. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 24 5‐minute Apgar score.
1.25
1.25. Analysis
Comparison 1 Increase in exercise in sedentary women, Outcome 25 Relative heart volume post‐delivery (cm3/m2).
2.1
2.1. Analysis
Comparison 2 Reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 1 Preterm birth.
2.2
2.2. Analysis
Comparison 2 Reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 2 Birthweight (g).
3.1
3.1. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 1 Gestational weight gain (kg).
3.2
3.2. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 2 Birthweight (g).
3.3
3.3. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 3 Birth fat mass (g).
3.4
3.4. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 4 Birth lean mass (g).
3.5
3.5. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 5 Birth % body fat.
3.6
3.6. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 6 Birth length (cm).
3.7
3.7. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 7 Birth head circumference (cm).
3.8
3.8. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 8 Birth ponderal index (g/cm3 x 100).
3.9
3.9. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 9 Gestational age (wk).
3.10
3.10. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 10 Placental volume at delivery (cm3).
3.11
3.11. Analysis
Comparison 3 Increase, then reduction in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 11 Mid‐trimester placental growth rate (cm3/wk).
4.1
4.1. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 1 Gestational weight gain (kg).
4.2
4.2. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 2 Birthweight (g).
4.3
4.3. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 3 Birth fat mass (g).
4.4
4.4. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 4 Birth lean mass (g).
4.5
4.5. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 5 Birth % body fat.
4.6
4.6. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 6 Birth length (cm).
4.7
4.7. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 7 Birth head circumference (cm).
4.8
4.8. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 8 Birth ponderal index (g/cm3 x 100).
4.9
4.9. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 9 Gestational age (wk).
4.10
4.10. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 10 Placental volume at delivery (cm3).
4.11
4.11. Analysis
Comparison 4 Reduction, then increase in exercise in physically fit women, Outcome 11 Mid‐trimester placental growth rate (cm3/wk).
5.1
5.1. Analysis
Comparison 5 Increase in exercise in overweight women, Outcome 1 Preterm birth.
5.2
5.2. Analysis
Comparison 5 Increase in exercise in overweight women, Outcome 2 Birthweight (g).
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