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Water Aerobics and Pregnancy
Reported November 24, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Pregnant mothers who take water aerobics
classes during pregnancy may reduce their need for pain medication during
labor.
A team of researchers from at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Sao
Paulo, Brazil, investigated the effects of water aerobics classes on a group
of 71 expectant mothers. About half the women were randomly assigned to
attend three 50 minutes sessions a week throughout their pregnancy; the
other group did not take part in water aerobics.
“We found no statistically significant differences in the duration of labor
or the type of delivery between the two groups. However, only 27 percent of
women in the aquarobics group requested analgesia, compared to 65 percent in
the control group. This represents a 58 percent reduction in requests,” Rosa
Pereira, the study’s lead researcher, was quoted as saying.
Research also showed water aerobics is a safe form of exercise for pregnant
women.
“We’ve shown that the regular practice of moderate water aerobics during
pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of the mother or the child. In
fact, the reduction in analgesia requests suggests that it can get women
into better psycho-physical condition,” Pereira was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Reproductive Health, 2008 |
