Medical expert of the article
New publications
Women who exercise during pregnancy have smart babies
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Experts from Canada have found that 20 minutes of exercise three times a week helps the intellectual development of a child in the womb, in addition, a child whose mother exercised during pregnancy will not be prone to obesity.
The studies conducted in this area confirmed the theory. The experiment involved female volunteers who were in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Some of the women led an active lifestyle and regularly did physical exercises throughout the week. In the second group, the women were less active and preferred to rest more.
Scientists used electroencephalography to evaluate brain activity in children aged 8 to 12 days. As it turned out, children whose mothers actively exercised had more developed and active brain activity.
Scientists believe that this is facilitated by the increased oxygen content that enters the mother's body during physical exercise. A sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy can lead to complications during labor. "Active pregnancy" helps the body to tolerate the position more easily and will make labor easier in the future, and the recovery process after childbirth will be faster.
If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, then moderate physical activity is necessary for a woman. The benefits of physical exercise for pregnant women have already been discussed more than once. Exercises help to strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation. Special exercises will help to establish correct breathing, a woman learns breathing techniques that can be useful during childbirth. Also, during exercises, a woman learns to tense some muscles, while weakening others - this is important for future labor.
Today, there are many complexes specially designed for pregnant women, taking into account the gestational age. Such exercises prepare the body of the expectant mother for the heavy load that it will be subjected to during childbirth. The birth process is difficult and exhausting, and regular training throughout the pregnancy will help to cope with it much easier.
The presence of chronic diseases in the expectant mother (congenital heart defects, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, excess weight, diseases of the musculoskeletal system) is not an absolute contraindication to physical exercise. In this case, you can consult with the doctor monitoring the course of pregnancy and choose the optimal set of exercises. Usually in such a case it is recommended to do not too difficult for the body aerobics, water aerobics, walking at a moderate pace, gymnastics. It is advisable for a woman to exercise under the supervision of an instructor who will coordinate the exercises taking into account the general condition of the woman.
Canadian specialists do not intend to stop at the level achieved. In their immediate plans, they plan to conduct a series of studies in the field of development of motor, visual, and language abilities of children depending on the lifestyle of their mothers during pregnancy.
[