Exercise <scp>FITT‐V</scp> during pregnancy: Association with birth outcomes
Alex Claiborne, Breanna Wisseman, Kara Kern, Dylan Steen, Filip Jevtovic, Samantha M. McDonald, Cody Strom, Edward R. Newton, Christy Isler, James DeVente, Steven Mouro, David N. Collier, Devon Kuehn, George A. Kelley, Linda E. May
Abstract
Abstract Background Prenatal exercise improves birth outcomes, but research into exercise dose–response effects is limited. Methods This study is a retrospective, secondary analysis of pooled data from three blinded, prospective, randomized controlled trials. Prenatal exercise frequency, intensity, type, time, and volume (FITT‐V) were assessed in supervised sessions throughout pregnancy. Gestational age (GA), neonatal resting heart rate (rHR), morphometrics (body circumferences, weight‐to‐length and ponderal index) Apgar and reflex scores, and placental measures were obtained at birth. Stepwise regressions and Pearson correlations determined associations between FITT‐V and birth outcomes. Results Prenatal exercise frequency reduces ponderal index ( R 2 = 0.15, F = 2.76, p = .05) and increased total number of reflexes present at birth ( R 2 = 0.24, F = 7.89, p < .001), while exercise intensity was related to greater gestational age and birth length ( R 2 = 0.08, F = 3.14; R 2 = 0.12, F = 3.86, respectively; both p = .04); exercise weekly volume was associated with shorter hospital stay ( R 2 = 0.24, F = 4.73, p = .01). Furthermore, exercise type was associated with placenta size ( R 2 = 0.47, F = 3.51, p = .01). Conclusions Prenatal exercise is positively related to birth and placental outcomes in a dose‐dependent manner.