Staying fit in pregnancy cuts C-section risk

EXERCISING while pregnant lowers the risk of needing a caesarean section, experts have found.

A major review showed that regular activity also reduces the chance of the baby being born overweight.

Even strenuous exercise – long considered dangerous for mothers-to-be – is safer than was thought and is unlikely to increase the risk of premature birth, scientists have found.

The comprehensive analysis, published by experts from the International Olympic Committee, looked at all previous studies of pregnancy and exercise to establish the benefits and hazards.

Among the other positive effects, the researchers – led by a team from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences – concluded that regular, lightto-moderate activity ‘ may decrease risk of miscarriage’.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that pregnant women do up to 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise – such as running or swimming.

However, the guidance adds that women unused to regular physical activity should build up to this gradually, starting with just 15 minutes, three times a week.

And those with underlying medical conditions should speak to their doctor first.

Professor Janice Rymer, vice president of education at the RCOG, said: ‘Evidence suggests that in the majority of cases it is safe for both the mother and baby if a woman exercises while pregnant.’ The Norwegian researchers found that mothers-to-be who stayed active had a 31 per cent lower risk of having an overweight baby than women who did no exercise.

They were also 15 per cent less likely to deliver their baby by caesarean. More than one in four women in England currently give birth by C-section – a figure that has been rising slowly over the past decade.

Experts believe a major reason for the increase is rising rates of maternal obesity, which drives up complications during natural labour.

The team, whose work was published last night in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, also confirmed that strenuous exercise speeds up the baby’s heart rate, which has previously been a cause for concern among doctors.

However, they found this was only temporary, with the heart rate returning to normal after exercise was stopped.

Professor Rymer added: ‘There are many health benefits to keeping active during pregnancy, including a reduction in fatigue, lower back pain, varicose veins, and swelling of the ankles.

‘Staying fit during pregnancy may also help to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, and promote a sense of wellbeing.

‘Not keeping active during pregnancy may contribute to loss of muscular and cardiovascular fitness, excessive maternal weight gain, and a raised risk of gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia which can impact the health of both mother and baby.

‘ We do recommend that women should take extra care when exercising and not exhaust themselves.’

The RCOG says that prospective mothers should not expect to be as fit as they were before the pregnancy.

They should also stop exercising immediately if they start to feel unwell.

Its experts advise: ‘ During exercise, you should be able to hold a conversation. If you become breathless as you talk, then you are probably exercising too strenuously. ‘ As your pregnancy progresses, you should be aiming to gradually reduce your overall activity.’

‘Safe for baby and mother’