Regular exercise during pregnancy did not affect physical growth or mental development of infants
Question What is the effect of regular, sustained, antigravitational exercise during pregnancy on the postnatal growth and neurodevelopment of infants?
Design
Cohort study with follow up at 1 year.
Setting
USA.
Participants
104 infants of women recruited from an ongoing study of exercise during pregnancy who had uncomplicated pregnancies, returned for follow up, and had a satisfactory evaluation at 1 year. All mothers were white, 25–38 years old, had family incomes in the upper 50%, had a median of 17 years of education, and most (91%) worked outside of the home. They all had well balanced diets, had 12–28% body fat, and had no chronic illness or tobacco or drug use. Median parity was 2. Exclusion criteria were abnormal antenatal course (premature labour, pregnancy induced hypertension, abruptio placentae, or intrauterine growth retardation); intrapartum complications (eg, sepsis, fetal distress, or …
