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Am J Perinatol 1994; 11(4): 263-266
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994588
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1994 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Fetal Responses to Maternal Exercise: Effect on Fetal Breathing and Body Movement

Hung N. Winn, Orvan Hess, Israel Goldstein, Frans Wackers, John C. Hobbins
  • Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (F.W.), and Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (O.H., I.G., J.C.H.), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the impact of maternal exercise on fetal breathing and fetal body movement, which are commonly used for assessing fetal well-being. Twelve healthy patients with a range of gestational ages of 26 to 36 weeks, who actively exercised throughout pregnancy, participated in the study. The patients walked on a motorized treadmill using a modified Bruce protocol until the maternal heart rate reached 75% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate. Fetal activities (fetal breathing and fetal body movement) were continuously monitored with real-time ultrasonography for 20 minutes before and after the standardized exercise test. Our results demonstrate that there is a significant increase in maternal heart rate and blood pressure associated with exercise. In addition, there is a significant decrease in the total duration and frequency of fetal breathing and fetal body movements following acute maternal exercise.

Keywords

Maternal exercises - fetal breathing - fetal body movements

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