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Exercise For Stronger
Babies
By: Emily
Listfield
The days of women being “confined” during
pregnancy are long gone. Still, even normally active women worry that
exercise might endanger their growing babies. But a new study proves just
the opposite. “There has been plenty of research showing that exercise is
safe and beneficial for moms-to-be, but this is the first research that it
is beneficial to babies as well,” says Dr. Linda May of Kansas City
University of Medicine and Biosciences.
Dr. May and her colleagues compared the breathing movements of
babies in utero in women who did moderate aerobic exercise three times a
week with those who did none. “Babies in utero don’t breathe all the time.
They take ‘practice breaths,’ which help the lungs and nervous system
develop,” Dr. May explains. “The fetuses of the exercising moms had lower
heart rates. Their nervous systems were more mature, and their breathing
was longer and deeper, improving their overall health.” All women should
check with their doctors first, but Dr. May advises: “if you exercised
before, keep it up. If you didn’t, talk to your physician, start slowly,
but definitely get moving.” Both you and your baby will be stronger for
it.
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