“Eating for two” is a common phrase many women take to heart while pregnant, but new research from the University of Montreal says that carrying too much weight during pregnancy could affect your child in the worst way–by making your child dumber.
The study, which was presented at the Neuroscience 2013 meeting in San Diego, California, studied newborns whose brains were examined using electrode devices–and found that women who stayed in shape had babies with more active brains.
“Accumulating evidence suggests that an active lifestyle is beneficial for cognition in children, adults and the elderly,” says the researchers of the study in a written statement. “The aim of the present study was to verify if in humans an active lifestyle during pregnancy has an impact on the newborn’s brain. The effect of exercise during pregnancy on the newborn’s brain was investigated 8 – 12 days post partum by means of the mismatch negativity (MMN), a neurophysiological brain potential that is associated with auditory sensory memory and measured with EEG.”
Enrolling pregnant women in their first trimester, researchers placed participants in a sedentary or an exercise group, asking those in the exercise group to exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes per day 3 times a week. On average, these women performed 117 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week–while, on the other hand, sedentary women worked out for a mere 12 minutes.
Then, after the women gave birth, researchers examined their newborns’ brains by attaching multiple electrodes to their head to examine if any changes occurred between both groups.
As a result, researchers found that babies born to moms who exercised regularly had improved brain activity.
“For most recording sites, a reduction in relative power for the delta band (0-4Hz) can be seen for the active group as opposed to the sedentary group,” says researchers. “Therefore, the positive wave with a smaller area amplitude in the active group suggests heightened maturity.”
Bottom line? Getting in your daily workout could boost your baby’s brain–and make them smarter for life.
The Recommendation
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, then there’s definitely no reason to eschew exercise now–research continues to show its benefits for both mom and baby. For your best bet, though, you’re better off following the exercise regimen the women followed in the study.
“The active group was asked to exercise a minimum of 20 minutes, 3 times per week, at a minimal intensity of 55% of their maximal aerobic capacity,” says researchers of the study. “Active group performed an average of 117 minutes of moderate intensity structured exercise per week while sedentary group performed 12 minutes per week.”
Generally speaking, any exercise that gets your heart rate up but doesn’t leave you panting are good ways to work out–such as walking, swimming, or dancing. However, heavier exercises, such as powerlifting or sprinting, probably aren’t the best for you and baby.
“As encouraging as the findings are, however, not all moms-to-be should start hitting the treadmill,” says Alice Park, a staff writer for TIME Magazine. “Some women with high-risk pregnancies shouldn’t exercise strenuously, so experts suggest that women consult with their doctors before starting a workout regimen.”
Readers: Do you think it’s a good idea to stay active while pregnant?
Sources:
Exercise During Pregnancy Boost Babies’ Brain Activity – TIME.com
Study: Exercise During Pregnancy Makes Babies Smarter – AbstractsOnline.com
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