EXERCISE WHILE PREGNANT LEADS TO A HEALTHIER MUM AND BABY

Studies have shown that exercise has a positive effect on mothers-to-be, and no detrimental impact on their developing offspring. A new study further extends the knowledge of research in this area and has found that not only do women benefit from exercise in pregnancy, but their fetuses do too.

A key component of the research involved magnetocardiography (MCG), the magnetic correlate of an electrocardiogram (ECG). MCG is a safe, non-invasive method to record the magnetic field surrounding the electrical currents generated by the fetal heart and nervous system. In addition to measures of heart rate and variability, the MCG allows for the study of the cardiac waveforms to measure of cardiac time intervals.

Here’s what they found:

• Lower heart rates among fetuses that had been exposed to maternal exercise.
• Analysis of short- and long-term heart variability at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation in exercise-exposed vs. non-exercise-exposed fetuses were statistically different at 32 weeks. 
• This trend is still seen at 36 wks, however it is not significant.

The researchers concluded: “This study suggests that a mother who exercises may not only be imparting health benefits to her own heart, but to her developing baby’s heart as well. As a result of this pilot study, we plan to continue the study to include more pregnant women.”

Click Here To Read More At Science Daily…

Super Healthy Tip...

The misconception that a baby is somehow protected from what is happening in mum’s physiology by a mysterious wall between the host and he guest is repeatedly dispelled. If the mother smokes it affects the baby. If the mother takes drugs or medications they can affect the infant. The mother’s diet can influence the baby’s state – positively and negatively. And now we see that a positive lifestyle practice such as exercise can have positive effects on the baby’s wellbeing.

Bottom line – don’t use the small package in your belly as an excuse to disqualify yourself from regular exercise: It’s good for you and it’s good for baby…