Female Fitness Blog

Working Out In The Womb?

Submitted by Fit and Female Blog

Pretty much everyone who is not living under a rock now knows that exercise is recommended for pregnant women to keep them healthy. 

But now new research (presented this month at The American Physiological Society’s annual meeting) suggests that working out may provide the developing baby with cardiovascular benefits, as well!

According to Dr. Linda May, of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscienes,

“When the mom exercises during pregnancy, the unborn baby gets the same type of training effect that you would see in an adult — so you see the lower heart rate and also improved heart rate variability, which is evidence of improvements in the nervous system of the heart.”

“Maternal exercise may be the earliest intervention to improve the heart of children and possibly the best,”

This is the first research to suggest a direct link between maternal fitness and the fitness of the unborn baby.  Very compelling evidence to add to the pile to indicate that virtually all women should be engaging in regular, moderate intensity exercise, particularly low-impact cardio. 

Pretty sweet deal for the fetus, Mom does all the sweating and the kid gets all the benefits!  Apparently, the theme starts even earlier than we thought ;-). 

Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS is an exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer and the creator of The Best Me Ever, a comprehensive weight loss and wellness system just for women

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