Fetal heart rate response to maternal exercise.

Twenty-five pregnant women without complications underwent fetal heart rate evaluation during a program involving exercise at a relative intensity of 61% to 73% of maximal capacity during the course of the pregnancy. Assessment of the influence of gestational age on the fetal heart rate response to exercise and evaluation of the course of fetal heart rate recovery were the main goals of the study. The results of the study confirmed previous findings that fetal heart rate is accelerated after maternal exercise. However, contrary to other studies we found no effect of gestational age on the fetal heart rate response to exercise. Neonatal findings provided further evidence that quantitated maternal exercise up to 70% of maximal capacity does not interfere with normal fetal growth and development.