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Excerpt
Cardiovascular response to strength conditioning exercises (CE) were examined in 12 healthy pregnant women and their unborn fetuses (gestational ages, 31-33 wks). A matched group of 12 healthy nonpregnant women was also studied. Maternal heart rate and blood pressure and fetal heart rate (FHR) responses (Doppler ultrasound) were measured in both the supine (30 degree tilt) and seated postures during handgrip exercise (HG), single leg extension exercise (SE) and double leg extension exercise (DE). Subjects performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 50, 70 and 90% of their 10 repetition maximum (10RM) for each exercise in both postures. As expected, the pregnant subjects exhibited higher heart rates and similar blood pressure responses to control subjects under all experimental conditions. Heart rate and blood pressure increased with increasing muscle mass (DE>SE>HG). In general, FHR characteristics were unaffected by maternal exercise and FHR baseline remained within normal limits (120-160 beats/min). However, significant increases were observed for the frequency of FHR accelerations (0.10/min to 0.27/min) from rest to DE sitting, and increased long term variability (6.9 to 9.6 beats/min) in response to HG exercise in the supine posture. This increase in reactivity was attributed to increased wakefulness in some fetuses. Our results support the safety of maternal/fetal strength conditioning in healthy pregnancy.
