Does exercise training during pregnancy affect gestational age and gestational weight gain?

Some controversies exist over the possibility that exercise during pregnancy might increase the risk of preterm delivery. At the same time excessive gestational weight gain is increasing in prevalence and associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child. This study aimed to determine the possible relationship between regular exercise of pregnancy and gestational weight gain and gestational age at the moment of delivery. This was a case-control survey. By using a continued method, performed on 250 women with one or two gestation were assigned to either a training (n = 125) or a comparison (n = 125) group. The supervised training was included three days a week, 30-45 min, from 20-26th weeks to 38-39th weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes include of gestational weight gain and gestational age was recorded for two groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Students t-test, man-Whitney, and chi-squared test where appropriate. According finding of this study, No significant differences were found (p>0.05) between 2 groups for gestational age and exercise. The mean gestational age did not differ between the training (39 weeks +/- 1 day) and the comparison group (39 weeks, 4 days +/- 1.23 day). There were meaningful statistical evidences for exercise training and gestational weight gain at the time of delivery. According the findings of the present study, healthy gravid with one or two gestation can safely engage in moderate, supervised exercise programmed until the end of gestation as this would not affect gestational age. Also the program proved effective in reducing gestational weight gain at the time of delivery. Such programs should be considered as part of routine pregnancy care for pregnant women especially obese ones.