Objective: To design Canadian guidelines advising obstetric care providers of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications of aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises in pregnancy. Outcomes: Knowledge of the impact of exercise on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, and of the maternal measures of fitness. Evidence: MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2002 for English-language articles related to studies of maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously sedentary population, maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously active population, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on early and late pregnancy outcomes, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on neonatal outcomes, as well as for review articles and meta-analyses related to exercise in pregnancy. Values: The evidence collected was reviewed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee) with representation from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and quantified using the evaluation of evidence guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Exam.Recommendations:1. All women without contraindications should be encouraged to participate in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises as part of a healthy lifestyle during their pregnancy. (II-1,2B)2. Reasonable goals of aerobic conditioning in pregnancy should be to maintain a good fitness level throughout pregnancy without trying to reach peak fitness or train for an athletic competition. (II-1,2C)3. Women should choose activities that will minimize the risk of loss of balance and fetal trauma. (III-C)4. Women should be advised that adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes are not increased for exercising women. (II-1,2B)5. Initiation of pelvic floor exercises in the immediate postpartum period may reduce the risk of future urinary incontinence. (II-1C)6. Women should be advised that moderate exercise during lactation does not affect the quantity or composition of breast milk or impact infant growth. (I-A)Validation: This guideline has been approved by the SOGC Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee, the Executive and Council of SOGC, and the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Sponsors: This guideline has been jointly sponsored by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Key words: fetus, neonate, outcomes, aerobic, strength

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Evidence-based guidelines indicate that regular prenatal exercise is an important component of a healthy pregnancy. In addition to maintaining physical fitness, exercise may be beneficial in preventing or treating maternal-fetal diseases. Women who are the most physically active have the lowest prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM), and prevention of GDM may decrease the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in both mother and offspring. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of exercise in delaying or preventing GDM in at-risk women, and exercise prescriptions that optimize outcomes for women with GDM are lacking. Physically active women are also less likely to develop pre-eclampsia, and we have proposed the following 4 mechanisms that may explain this protective effect: enhanced placental growth and vascularity, reduced oxidative stress, reduced inflammation, and correction of disease-related endothelial dysfunction. Exercise may also prevent reproductive complications associated with maternal obesity. Obesity increases the risk of infertility and miscarriage, and weight loss programs that incorporate diet and exercise are a cost-effective fertility treatment that may also reduce the probability of obesity-related complications during pregnancy. Regular exercise following conception may prevent excessive gestational weight gain and reduce post-partum weight retention.

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