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Physical activity during pregnancy and offspring characteristics at 8-10 years

J M Pivarnik1, L M Mudd, E E White

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA - jimpiv@msu.edu.

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|October 2, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal physical activity during pregnancy may influence child blood pressure and birth weight. Meeting activity guidelines was linked to lower birth weights, and third-trimester activity related to child systolic blood pressure.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

  • Maternal physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is a modifiable factor with potential long-term health implications for offspring.
  • Understanding the relationship between prenatal PA and child cardiovascular health markers is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal PA levels during pregnancy and offspring outcomes including birth weight, blood pressure, and aerobic fitness.
  • To explore whether meeting established PA recommendations influences these child health parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 20 mother/child pairs was assessed 8-10 years postpartum.
  • Maternal PA during pregnancy was retrospectively calculated and categorized based on ACOG recommendations.
  • Child anthropometrics, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and aerobic fitness were measured.

Main Results:

  • Children of mothers meeting ACOG PA recommendations had significantly lower birth weights compared to those whose mothers did not meet recommendations.
  • Third-trimester maternal PA showed an inverse correlation with child systolic blood pressure (SBP).
  • The relationship between birth weight and SBP in children was inverse only when mothers did not meet PA recommendations.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal PA during pregnancy appears to be associated with offspring birth weight and blood pressure.
  • The findings suggest that maternal PA may modify the relationship between birth weight and child systolic blood pressure.
  • These preliminary results highlight the importance of prenatal physical activity for child cardiovascular health.
Abstract

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