Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Antenatal exercise and birthweight.

R Bell1, S Palma

  • 1Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|June 28, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Epigenetic effects of folate and related B vitamins on brain health throughout life: Scientific substantiation and translation of the evidence for health improvement strategies.

Nutrition bulletin·2023
Same author

Corrigendum to 'Diuretics and the kidney'[BJA Education 22 (2022) 216-23].

BJA education·2022
Same author

Diuretics and the kidney.

BJA education·2022
Same author

Guideline on the peri-operative management of patients with sickle cell disease: Guideline from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Anaesthesia·2021
Same author

Variation in menopausal vasomotor symptoms outcomes in clinical trials: a systematic review.

BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology·2019
Same author

Benefits and risks of adjuvant treatment with zoledronic acid in stage II/III breast cancer. 10 years follow-up of the AZURE randomized clinical trial (BIG 01/04).

Journal of bone oncology·2018
Same journal

Determining the Feasibility of a No-Ultrasound Screening Tool for Early Medical Abortion in Australia.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

'All In': Equitable Health Outcomes Require Culturally Safe Care for Everybody.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Benzylpenicillin Concentrations in Intrapartum Group B Streptococcus Prevention Guidelines; A Systematic Review of the Evidence.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Retrospective Cohort Study of Foetal Growth Restricted Births After 40 Weeks at an Australian Tertiary Maternity Hospital Between 2018 and 2021.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Models of Antenatal Care for Rural Indigenous Women: A Systematic Review.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Dispensing of Antiemetics During Pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2005-2020.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
See all related articles

Reducing exercise during pregnancy did not significantly impact birthweight in this study. Many expectant mothers were unwilling to reduce their intended exercise routines, highlighting a strong preference for maintaining fitness during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • High levels of antenatal exercise are increasingly common.
  • The impact of reducing maternal exercise on fetal development, specifically birthweight, requires further investigation.
  • Guidance on exercise during pregnancy is essential for expectant mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether reducing maternal exercise during pregnancy is associated with an increase in birthweight.
  • To determine if strenuous antenatal exercise affects birthweight.
  • To inform advice given to pregnant women regarding exercise levels.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving 117 women intending to exercise ≥5 times weekly during pregnancy.
  • Participants were randomized to either continue or reduce their exercise program (to ≤3 sessions weekly).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Birthweight was the primary outcome measure.

    • Main Results:

    • No statistically significant difference in mean birthweight was observed between groups.
    • A high refusal rate (48%) for randomization occurred, with women unwilling to reduce exercise.
    • The study's power to detect differences in birthweight was limited by low recruitment into the randomized trial.

    Conclusions:

    • Reducing intended exercise during pregnancy did not significantly alter birthweight in this cohort.
    • The findings suggest that women intending high-frequency exercise during pregnancy are often unwilling to reduce their activity.
    • Further research is needed with higher randomization rates to definitively assess the effects of reduced antenatal exercise on birthweight.