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Shop NewsTUESDAY 06 APRIL, 2010 |
 Active mums gain health benefits BETWEEN crippling backache, debilitating morning sickness and feeling the size of a small house, taking regular exercise is probably the last thing on the minds of most pregnant mums-to-be. But researchers have found that women who exercise during pregnancy can increase their chances of giving birth to healthy, active babies. Mothers-to-be who underwent fitness training on exercise bikes had lighter babies than women who did no exercise, scientists from the University of Auckland in New Zealand found. Dr Mark Ridgwell, a physician at Sports Wales, said he was not surprised by the findings but urged parents not to use them as an excuse. He said: “The problem with studies like this is that if you’re the type of person to exercise when you are pregnant, you’re probably also the type of person who would encourage your children to exercise. “So is it more about your own mentality? I think that probably has more impact on obesity than the size of your child when it’s born. “However, there’s no doubt that exercising when you are pregnant is good for you.” Cardiff-based personal trainer Jeff Webb, of Outdoor Fitness, said: “If someone came to me wanting to begin exercising because they were pregnant I would advise them, like I would with anyone who wants to take up training, to build it up gradually. “But if you’re used to training and you do it regularly I would say the best thing is to carry on. Paula Radcliffe, for example, was training up to two weeks before giving birth. “The type of exercise you do is really is down to the individual. If someone has been running all their lives they should carry on as normal – pregnancy isn’t a disease. “Consult your doctor first to talk about what kind of exercise is good for you and what’s not.” Leah Perkins, 32, Alex Attard, 34, and Jo Lloyd, 38, of Cardiff, all attended Mr Webb’s training sessions while they were pregnant. Ms Perkins, a legal adviser, exercised while she was pregnant with both her children, and was planning to go out to train with Jeff on the day her daughter, Sossia, was born. She said Sossia was born “within 20 minutes” weighing 7.2lb while her 16-month-old son, Macfen, weighed 7.4lb at his birth. She said: “I honestly believe the births were made easier because I stayed active through my pregnancy. “I was training three or four times a week right up until two days before I gave birth to Sossia. “I concentrated on running, lunges, sit ups, squats – the only thing I couldn’t do was jumps. “Towards the end when my bump got really big I couldn’t sit up all the way so I would do crunches. I listened to my body.” Ms Perkins, who lives in the city’s Pontcanna district with her partner David Walters, 43, a property developer, added: “A lot of people were saying ‘don’t you think you should be resting now’ or ‘you should be putting your feet up with a cream cake’, but it’s my way of relaxing. “It’s the only hour I have to do something for myself and I felt it gave me that energy I needed and afterwards I would feel great. “I would say, if it feels right for you, then you carry on.” Dr Paul Hofman from the University of Auckland said: “Our findings show that regular aerobic exercise alters the maternal environment in some way that has an impact on nutrient stimulation of foetal growth, resulting in a reduction in offspring birth weight. “Given that large birth size is associated with an increased risk of obesity, a modest reduction in birth weight may have long-term health benefits for offspring by lowering this risk in later life.” The trial involved 84 first-time mothers who were randomly assigned either to an exercise group or a non-exercise “control” group. In the study, the women who exercised had babies that were on average 143g lighter than those of women who did not exercise. The findings are reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. News for Monday 05 April, 2010 Recent News
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