Maternal Exercise Boosts Heart Health of Unborn Babies
Reported April 22, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Exercise during fetal growth may improve the cardiovascular health of an unborn baby.
Researchers examined the effects of exercise on fetal breathing in 20- to 35-year-old mothers to be. Each exerciser participated in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three times weekly, and the control group did not have any regular exercise routine.
In the exercise group, fetal heart rate was significantly lower and fetal short-term and overall heart rate variability were higher. In addition, fetuses exposed to exercise showed better vagal control during breathing. Results did not demonstrate differences in their number of breathing episodes between the two groups.
Researchers measured maternal and fetal magnetocardiograms and fetal movements using a noninvasive, dedicated fetal biomagnetometer, which recorded the physiology of the developing fetus.
SOURCE: Presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans, April 18-22, 2009
