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Influence of exercise in pregnancy on fetal heart response during labor and delivery (886.5)
Author(s) -
Barbari Nichelle,
May Linda,
Newton Edward,
Livingston Jeffrey
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.886.5
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , pregnancy , gestational age , heart rate , obstetrics , fetal heart rate , gestation , parity (physics) , blood pressure , genetics , biology , physics , particle physics
Current research supports the health benefits of exercise during pregnancy for mother and baby. However, scant research has focused on how maternal exercise during pregnancy influences fetal heart response during labor and delivery. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of exercise throughout pregnancy on fetal heart response to the stress of labor and delivery. We hypothesized that during labor and delivery there would be lower baseline fetal heart rate (HR), increased fetal heart rate variability (HRV), and no differences in fetal accelerations and decelerations in fetuses exposed to maternal exercise relative to controls. The Modifiable Physical Activity questionnaire was used to classify controls and exercisers. Based on routine fetal HR recordings, we measured fetal baseline HR, HRV, accelerations, and decelerations and birth measures. Group differences were tested using t‐tests. There were no differences found between the mother’s age, gestational age, gravida and parity. No statistical difference was found in average fetal HR and HRV; however, there is a trend towards increased variability among the exercise group. These data suggest babies exposed to maternal exercise respond the same, or better, during the physiologic stress of labor and delivery. These findings are applicable in regards to the potential to improve pregnancy outcomes in the US.