Exercising During Pregnancy Helps Maintain Child's Blood Pressure Level Later

A new study reveals that apart from helping to improve a pregnant woman's quality of life, it also contributes to protecting the baby against the risk of developing high blood pressure later in life.

The new study that was conducted by a team of researchers from the Michigan State University stated that following a proper exercise routine during pregnancy can help prevent certain negative effects associated with low birth weight of the baby. Low birth weight is considered to be a very important factor that later contributes to increasing a person's chances of becoming a victim of hypertension later in life.

The researchers found that children of those mothers who remained physically active, especially during the last trimester of their pregnancy, had lower blood pressure at the age of 10 when compared with children of those mothers who preferred to move around lesser.

"We looked at a range of normal birth weight babies, some falling at the lower end of the scale, and surprisingly we found that this lower birth weight and higher blood pressure relationship in these offspring is not supported if the women were physically active," lead author of the study James Pivarnik, said in a statement. "The connection was disrupted, indicating that exercise may in some way alter cardiovascular risk that occurs in utero."

James Pivarnik and colleagues based their study on the fetal origins hypothesis - which is a theory that upholds the importance of keeping a pregnant woman happy during her pregnancy. The theory emphasizes that any strenuous event during the critical growth periods of pregnancy can lead to permanent changes in the baby's health.

Over the course of the five-year study, the researchers looked at 51 women and examined their physical exercises during and after pregnancy. Exercising during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester, was deemed as highly beneficial for preventing hypertension in children.

Tests conducted at between eight to 10 years of age showed that systolic blood pressure in children remained comparatively low when their mothers exercised during pregnancy.

"This is a good thing as it suggests that the regular exercise habits of the mother are good for heart health later in a child's life," Pivarnik said.

Previous research has shown that mom-to-be, who exercised at least 20 minutes, thrice a week helped improve the baby's brain development.

Remaining active during pregnancy can also help avoid many pregnancy-related discomforts and make it a delightful experience. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, exercising for 30 minutes every day can protect expecting moms against backaches, bloating, constipation, gestational diabetes; also help improve quality of sleep and mood.