Exercise-related changes in umbilical and uterine artery waveforms as assessed by Doppler ultrasound scans.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of strenuous symptom-limited exercise on umbilical and uterine blood flow.


METHODS
Twenty-two primiparous women between 30 and 34 weeks of gestation were recruited. At rest, umbilical and uterine artery waveforms were assessed by measuring the pulsatility index. This was followed by a symptom-limited incremental exercise test. Fetal umbilical and maternal uterine artery circulations were assessed after exercise.


RESULTS
Strenuous maternal exercise was demonstrated by the significant change in physiologic parameters, which was associated with an immediate increase in fetal heart rate, a significant increase in the right uterine artery pulsatility index, and a reduction in the umbilical artery pulsatility index.


CONCLUSIONS
The modest change in the uterine artery pulsatility index without an adverse change in the umbilical artery pulsatility index indicates that a single bout of maximum symptom-limited exercise does not have immediate adverse fetal or maternal cardiovascular effects.
Kennelly
Mairead M
MM
Research Department, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Geary
Michael
M
McCaffrey
Noel
N
McLoughlin
Paul
P
Staines
Anthony
A
McKenna
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D014655:Vascular Resistance