Effectiveness and safety of a structured swimming program in previously sedentary women during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether undertaking a swimming program in sedentary women during pregnancy would improve maternal fitness without adverse fetal consequences.


METHODS
Prospective observational investigation of healthy sedentary pregnant women participating in a monitored swimming program.


RESULTS
Twenty-three women attended swimming sessions from 16 to 28 weeks of gestation resulting in increasing distances swum and improved aerobic fitness as measured by physical work capacity (PWC170) (p = 0.003). Resting maternal heart rate decreased (p = 0.041) and resting systolic (p = 0.092) and diastolic (p = 0.971) blood pressures remained unchanged over gestation. The mean fetal heart rates decreased with advancing gestational age (p = 0.001), consistent with normal physiology. Non-stress tests and umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratios were similar before and after swimming sessions, providing evidence that fetal well-being was unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
A structured swimming program in sedentary pregnant women increases maternal fitness without any alteration in maternal and fetal well-being.
Lynch
A M
AM
School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
McDonald
S
S
Magann
E F
EF
Evans
S F
SF
Choy
P L
PL
Dawson
B
B
Blanksby
B A
BA
Newnham
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology