Exercise and outcomes in macrosomic pregnancies

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Pregnancy often involves physical activity restrictions to prevent adverse outcomes.
• Fetal macrosomia poses risks for both mother and infant.
• The role of exercise in high-risk pregnancies requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of regular exercise on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by macrosomia.
• To compare complication rates between exercising and non-exercising women with macrosomic infants.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study screening data from women delivering infants ≥4000g at ≥38 weeks gestation.
• Patients divided into exercise (walking 30-60 min/day, ≥1 day/week) and non-exercise groups.
• Maternal and fetal complications were compared between the 84 exercising and 168 non-exercising women.

Main Results:

• The non-exercise group had a significantly higher rate of delivery at ≥40 weeks gestation.
• Maternal and fetal complications were more frequent in the non-exercise group, though not statistically significant.
• Excessive maternal weight gain was significantly reduced in the exercise group.

Conclusions:

• Regular exercise, such as walking, in macrosomic pregnancies significantly reduces excessive maternal weight gain.
• Exercise may reduce maternal and fetal trauma in macrosomic pregnancies, warranting further investigation.
• Recommendations align with ACOG guidelines, suggesting exercise benefits at-risk pregnancies.