title: Exercise in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design Canadian guidelines advising obstetric care providers of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications of aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises in pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of the impact of exercise on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, and of the maternal measures of fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2002 for English-language articles related to studies of maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously sedentary population, maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously active population, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on early and late pregnancy outcomes, and impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on neonatal outcomes, as well as for review articles and meta-analyses related to exercise in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evidence collected was reviewed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee) with representation from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and quantified using the evaluation of evidence guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Exam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. All women without contraindications should be encouraged to participate in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises as part of a healthy lifestyle during their pregnancy. (II-1,2B) 2. Reasonable goals of aerobic conditioning in pregnancy should be to maintain a good fitness level throughout pregnancy without trying to reach peak fitness or train for an athletic competition. (II-1,2C) 3. Women should choose activities that will minimize the risk of loss of balance and fetal trauma. (III-C) 4. Women should be advised that adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes are not increased for exercising women. (II-1,2B) 5. Initiation of pelvic floor exercises in the immediate postpartum period may reduce the risk of future urinary incontinence. (II-1C) 6. Women should be advised that moderate exercise during lactation does not affect the quantity or composition of breast milk or impact infant growth. (I-A) VALIDATION: This guideline has been approved by the SOGC Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee, the Executive and Council of SOGC, and the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This guideline has been jointly sponsored by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
authors.forename: Gregory A L
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Larry A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Michelle F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mottola
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.forename: Marc-Yvon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartellas
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cargill
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Marie-Jocelyne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roggensack
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haennel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hughson
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDougall
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiidus
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trudeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D016239:MEDLINE; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome