Although women are encouraged to exercise before, during, and after pregnancy, research shows that most women aren’t getting their 30 daily minutes of exercise.
But now a new study shows that mothers may be missing out on an important benefit when they skip exercise.
Presenting their research at the Society for Neuroscience 2013 Conference in San Diego earlier this month, researchers found that pregnant women who exercised for at least 60 minutes per week gave birth to newborns who had higher levels of brain activity.
“Our research indicates that exercise during pregnancy enhances the newborn child’s brain development,” says Dave Ellemberg, a professor of kinesthesiology at the University of Montreal, who helped lead the study. “We are optimistic that this will encourage women to change their health habits, given that the simple act of exercising during pregnancy could make a difference for their child’s future.”
Why Exercise Helps Infants
Examining pregnant women in their second trimester, researchers asked ten of them to do cardiovascular activity for at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week. The other women in the study, who were also pregnant and in their second trimesters, were not advised to do any exercise.
After the women had given birth, researchers then measured the level of brain activity in their newborn children by performing a electroencephalography, or EEG, scan, which helps measure electrical activity in the brain.
The result? Babies whose mothers exercised regularly had less electrical wave activity than babies whose mothers did not exercise.
But before you think this is a bad thing, think again: Less electrical wave activity means their brains needed to use less energy to process what they were seeing or hearing.
“Our results show that the babies born from the mothers who were physically active have a more mature cerebral activation, suggesting that their brains developed more rapidly,” says Elise Labonte-LeMoyne, study co-author and PhD candidate from the University of Montreal.
So What Does This Mean for You?
While doctors have known for years that exercising during pregnancy is healthy for the mother, this study finally sheds light on an age old question–could exercise benefit unborn babies as well?
While researchers emphasize that this study has not been peer-reviewed yet–research is considered preliminary until it is thoroughly reviewed using this process–many experts say this study provides critical evidence about the importance of staying physically active.
And better yet, if you’re expecting a child, it doesn’t require that you do much.
“Mothers who exercise during pregnancy may not only improve their health but the brain development of their babies,” says Michelle Castillo, an associate editor for CBS News. “Not exercising can lead to more complications during pregnancy, while staying active has been linked to a lower risk of obesity for the child and easier postpartum recovery for the mom.”
As for which exercises are best, low-impact routines are best: Swimming, walking, or cycling on a stationary bike are all good ways to work out at a safe pace.
Readers: Do you think it’s a good idea to exercise while pregnant?
Source:
Exercise During Pregnancy Makes Babies Smarter – CBSNews.com
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