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A longitudinal study of maternal oxygen saturation during short‐term submaximal exercise
Author(s) -
Pirhonen Jouko P,
Lindqvist Pelle G.,
Marsal Karel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1046/j.1475-097x.2003.00467.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gestation , pregnancy , oxygen saturation , saturation (graph theory) , heart rate , obstetrics , oxygen , anesthesia , blood pressure , chemistry , genetics , mathematics , organic chemistry , combinatorics , biology
Summary Purpose: Longitudinal prospective study before, during and after normal pregnancy of the effect of short‐term submaximal exercise on maternal oxygen saturation. Methods: Fourteen healthy women were recruited to the study before a planned pregnancy, and were followed seven times during the pregnancy and for up to 6 month after delivery. A submaximal bicycle exercise test with a target heart rate of 85% of the predicted age‐adjusted maximum was performed. Maternal oxygen saturation was continuously recorded using a pulse oximeter. Results: Maternal oxygen saturation at maximum work‐load had increased significantly already at 8 weeks gestation compared with preconception levels, and remained at a significantly higher level until 29 weeks of gestation. Thereafter, the oxygen saturation continued to be higher even at 6 month postpartum. During the exercise test, the lowest saturation was found during the late recovery period, this remained unchanged before, during and after pregnancy. Conclusion: A pregnant woman responds to short‐term exercise by increasing the oxygen saturation until 29 weeks. After that, the saturation level decreases but remains at a higher level even 6 month after delivery compared with preconception levels.