Pregnancy Exercise Increases Foetal Lung Function

The physical activity during pregnancy is associated with the lung function of the offspring. Babies born to inactive mothers have low lung function.

Exercises done by pregnant mothers not only benefit them but also their offspring, finds a research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. The study was conducted on 814 babies and the results showed that babies born to physically inactive mothers had lower lung function compared to babies born to active mothers.

According to Dr Gudmundsdottir- pediatrician-“Previous studies have shown that individuals with low lung function in infancy have higher risk of asthma, other obstructive lung diseases, and lower lung function later in life. Therefore, exploring factors that can be associated with lung function in infants is important. If being physically active during pregnancy could reduce the risk of impaired infant lung function, it would be a simple, low-cost way to improve the respiratory health of offspring.”

‘Pregnancy exercise is good for mothers and also increases the lung function of offspring. ’

Low lung function in newborn babies increases the risk of experiencing respiratory problems like asthma and other obstructive lung disorders.

The studies showed that out of 290 babies born to inactive mothers, 8.6%(25) experienced low lung function. The average lung function of babies born to active mothers was higher compared to inactive mothers.

The data was collected from 814 mothers in Oslo and Stockholm and they were asked a complete questionnaire about their health, lifestyle, socioeconomic factors and nutrition. The women were classified into three categories; inactive, fairly active and active based on their intensity and duration of exercise.

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The lung function was measured in three month old babies with the help of a mask attached to the measuring equipment that recorded the number of breaths. The important measurement is the ratio between the time to Peak Tidal Expiratory Flow and Expiratory time (tPTEF/tE). A low tPTEF/tE indicates a limitation in the flow of exhaled breath. The average tPTEF/tE in 814 babies was 0.391, the 290 babies of inactive mothers had a low average of 0.387 and 299 babies of active mothers had a value of 0.394.

“Although there is no clear definition for ‘low’ lung function, studies, including from our own group, have found that infants with a tPTEF/tE measurement of less than 0.20 shortly after birth were more likely to have a history of asthma by the age of 10 years. Also, children with lung function in the bottom 50% of the group were both more likely to have current asthma at 10 years and to have a history of asthma,” says Dr Gudmundsdottir.

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More studies are required to find the association between inactive mothers and low lung function in infants.

Source-Medindia