Citation
Barakat Carballo, Ruben and Peláez Puente, Mireia and Coteron Lopez, Francisco Javier
(2012).
Exercise during pregnancy reduces the rate of cesarean and instrumental deliveries: results of a randomized controlled trial.
"The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine", v. 25
(n. 11);
pp. 2372-2376.
ISSN 1476-7058.
https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2012.696165.
Abstract
Objective:
In this study, the authors assessed the effects of a structured, moderate-intensity exercise program during the entire length of pregnancy on a woman’s method of delivery.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 290 healthy pregnant Caucasian (Spanish) women with a singleton gestation who were randomly assigned to either an
exercise (n=138) or a control (n=152) group. Pregnancy outcomes, including the type of
delivery, were measured at the end of the pregnancy.
Results:
The percentage of cesarean and instrumental deliveries in the exercise group were lower than in the control group (15.9%, n=22; 11.6%, n=16 vs. 23%, n=35; 19.1%, n=29,
respectively; p=0.03). The overall health status of the newborn as well as other pregnancy outcomes were unaffected.
Conclusions:
Based on these results, a supervised program of moderate-intensity exercise performed throughout pregnancy was associated with a reduction in the rate of cesarean sections and can be recommended for healthy women in pregnancy.