Beneficial Effects of Maternal Physical Activity during Pregnancy on Fetal, Newborn, and Child Health: Guidelines for Interventions during the Perinatal Period from the French National College of Midwives.
Benjamin C Guinhouya, Martine Duclos, Carina Enea and 1 others
PMID 36480665WHAT IT FOUND
Regular moderate physical activity during pregnancy improves fetal heart rate variability and child neurodevelopment, including language and motor skills.
Strict bed rest does not prevent preterm birth and increases maternal stress, mood disorders, and guilt without clinical benefit.
Key findings
01Strict bed rest does not reduce the risk of preterm birth and is associated with increased risks of mood disorders, stress, and guilt.
02Maternal physical activity during pregnancy is positively associated with higher scores on neurodevelopmental tests in children, including communication and motor skills.
03Guidelines recommend pregnant women engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week and limit sedentary time to 7 hours or less per day.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review with a pre-registered protocol, so selection bias in the included studies cannot be ruled out. Many of the underlying studies are observational, making it difficult to establish causality between maternal activity and specific child outcomes due to potential confounding factors like diet and socioeconomic status. The review relies heavily on animal models to explain mechanisms, which may not fully translate to human physiology. There is significant heterogeneity in the types and intensities of physical activity across the studies included, making precise dose-response recommendations difficult.
Declared interests
The publication of this article was funded by the Collège National des Sages-Femmes de France (French National College of Midwives).
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the benefits of moderate activity as a license for high-intensity exercise. Very high-intensity activity (≥85-90% of maximum heart rate) is strongly advised against due to an increased risk of fetal bradycardia, and supine exercises should be avoided to prevent aortic compression.