Structured moderate physical exercise programmes during pregnancy decrease the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and diminish maternal weight gain, and seem to be safe for the mother and the neonate; however, further studies are needed to establish recommendations.

Physical exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a safe strategy to achieve better psychological well-being and to reduce postpartum depressive symptoms.

Regular exercise during pregnancy appears to modestly increase the chance for normal delivery among healthy pregnant women. This applies to women with low to moderate levels of physical activity, but studies are needed to understand better the effect of physical exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity in the different trimesters.

Structured physical exercise programs during pregnancy appear to be safe for the neonate, mainly favoring a lower birth weight within normal range. However, more studies are needed to establish recommendations.

(BJOG. 2015;122(9):1167–1174) Pregnant women who experience excessive maternal weight gain (MWG) are at increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, macrosomia, stillbirth, and perinatal complications. It has been suggested that physical activity (PA) during pregnancy might help to prevent some of these risks. However, clinicians are reluctant to recommend PA to pregnant women due to conflicting evidence. In order to determine whether or not PA prevents GDM and excessive MWG, the authors of the present meta-analysis reviewed randomized controlled trials and assessed the effectiveness of physical exercise programs during pregnancy in preventing excessive MWG and GDM.