[Physical work capacity in pregnancy].

In a study 21 pregnant women with an age of 17 to 33 years were tested spiroergometrically for estimation of physical fitness beginning with the 3rd up to the 9th month of pregnancy and during childbed. All the women were healthy and their pregnancies developed without any complication. The parameters oxygen supply, lactate level, oxygen pulse and blood pressure regulation were recorded under steady state conditions. Up to the 6th month of pregnancy a deterioration of all these parameters was observed showing a reduction of the women's general exercise tolerance. In advanced pregnancy adaptation was observed similar to that after continuous training. Our results do not admit unambiguously of conclusions concerning changes of physical fitness after childbed.