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Does Exercise During Pregnancy Affect Placental Weight?: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Ruben Barakat1, Marina Vargas1, Maia Brik2
11 Department of Social Sciences, Physical Activity, Sports and Leisure, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, INEF, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain.
Evaluation & the Health Professions
|November 29, 2017
Summary
Regular exercise during pregnancy does not impact placental weight (PW). A supervised aerobic exercise program for healthy pregnant women showed no significant difference in PW between the exercise and control groups.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Placental weight (PW) is a key indicator of placental growth and function, crucial for maternal-fetal oxygen and nutrient exchange.
- The influence of physical exercise during pregnancy on fetal development and placental metrics is a significant clinical question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of a structured aerobic exercise program throughout pregnancy on placental weight in healthy women.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial (NCT02420288) allocated 65 healthy pregnant women into an exercise group (n=33) or a control group (n=32).
- The exercise group engaged in 85 supervised training sessions (aerobic, strength, flexibility) from week 9-11 until week 38-39 of gestation.
- Placental weight was measured at delivery as a primary outcome.
Main Results:
- High adherence to the exercise program was observed.
- No statistically significant difference in placental weight was found between the exercise group (495.4 ± 150 g) and the control group (493.2 ± 119.6 g; p = .95).
Conclusions:
- A regular, supervised exercise program incorporating aerobic, strength, and flexibility components throughout pregnancy does not adversely affect placental weight in healthy pregnant women.
- These findings support the safety of moderate exercise for placental development during pregnancy.
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