Physiological responses to aerobic exercise during pregnancy and post-partum

Maternal physiological responses to exercise during pregnancy and post-partum were studied. The results indicated that: (a) the maternal submaximal oxygen consumption (1/min) at a constant heart rate remained essentially unchanged during the last two trimesters of pregnancy and eight months post-partum, (b) the fetal heart rate returned to near-baseline levels within a two-minute exercise recovery, and (c) the infant birth data were all within the normal range. It would appear that moderate aerobic exercise during pregnancy may be done without apparent harm to either mother or baby, and could possibly benefit the mother by maintaining her aerobic fitness during pregnancy.