Research
Fetal cardiotocography before and after water aerobics during pregnancy
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* Corresponding author: Jose G Cecatti cecatti@unicamp.br
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas-SP, Brazil
2 Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas- UNICAMP, PO Box 6030, 13083-881 Campinas-SP, Brazil
Reproductive Health 2010, 7:23 doi:10.1186/1742-4755-7-23
Published: 31 August 2010Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effect of moderate aerobic physical activity in water on fetal cardiotocography patterns in sedentary pregnant women.
Method
In a non-randomized controlled trial, 133 previously sedentary pregnant women participated in multiple regular sessions of water aerobics in a heated swimming pool. Cardiotocography was performed for 20 minutes before and just after the oriented exercise. Cardiotocography patterns were analyzed pre- and post-exercise according to gestational age groups (24-27, 28-31, 32-35 and 36-40 weeks). Student's t and Wilcoxon, and McNemar tests were used, respectively, to analyze numerical and categorical variables.
Results
No significant variations were found between pre- and post-exercise values of fetal heart rate (FHR), number of fetal body movements (FM) or accelerations (A), FM/A ratio or the presence of decelerations. Variability in FHR was significantly higher following exercise only in pregnancies of 24-27 weeks.
Conclusions
Moderate physical activity in water was not associated with any significant alterations in fetal cardiotocography patterns, which suggests no adverse effect on the fetus.