During pregnancy, women try to take care of themselves in every possible way and their fears grow as their baby develops. Pregnancy is a perfect time to exercise, however doing it is a fear that every woman has because she thinks it can lead to complications for her health and that of her child.
However, the reality is quite the opposite, starting with a physical training is the best thing you can do, since it carries several benefits not only for women, but also for the heart of your child. Find out how physical exercise can improve your baby’s heart health.
Exercise During Pregnancy Benefits Your Baby’s Cardiovascular Health
Exercise during pregnancy brings benefits not only to the mother’s heart, but also to the heart of her baby, a recent study shows.
The results show that regular exercise during pregnancy reduces the heart rate of the fetus and this effect persists for a month after the baby is born. A low heart rate indicates that the baby’s heart is in good health.
Study results suggest that exercise during pregnancy is the first thing a mother should do to improve her child’s cardiovascular health after birth. However, it is still being investigated whether the benefits that the baby has can be maintained after more than a month.
The study that was carried out to determine the benefits of the baby’s heart , included 61 pregnant women. Both the mother and the baby were evaluated by cardiac examinations during and after pregnancy. The women varied in the amount and type of exercises they did. These workouts included walking, running, yoga, and weight lifting.
Women who exercised at least 30 minutes a day , three days a week had fetuses with lower heart rates compared to women who did not exercise. In addition, they did workouts that increased heart rate variability, which indicates that the heart is better controlled by the nervous system.
It is not yet clear why exercise during pregnancy benefits the baby’s heart, but it could be due to a hormonal or growth factor produced by the mother during exercise.
What exercise can be done during pregnancy?
Exercising during pregnancy brings several benefits, including:
- Relieve back pain.
- Reduce blood pressure.
- Improve mood.
Most exercises, such as running, weight training, and swimming, are safe during pregnancy. However, there are others that can harm the baby, such as diving, which deprives the fetus of oxygen. If you are not used to exercising, start by taking walks at your own pace every day, this way you will adapt.
Reference
- Rachael Rettner, Exercise During Pregnancy Benefits Baby’s Heart. For Livescience [Revised November 2015]
