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Cited by 140Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlPhysical Activity and HealthBirth, Development, and Health

Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences fetal cardiac autonomic control of heart rate and heart rate variability

May, Linda E., Glaros, Alan, Yeh, Hung-Wen, Clapp, James F., Gustafson, Kathleen M.·2010·Early Human Development
DOI 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.002
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Abstract

Background Previous studies using ultrasound technology showed that fetal heart rate (HR) may be responsive to maternal aerobic exercise. Although it is recognized that cardiac autonomic control may be influenced by the intrauterine environment, little is known about how maternal exercise affects fetal heart development.Aims This study tested the hypothesis that regular maternal exercise throughout gestation influences fetal cardiac autonomic control of HR and heart rate variability (HRV) when compared to fetuses of non-exercising women.Study design Magnetocardiograms (MCGs) were recorded using a dedicated fetal biomagnetometer at 28, 32 and 36 weeks gestational age (GA) from 26 regularly exercising (>30 min of aerobic exercise, 3x per week) and 35 healthy, non-exercising pregnant women. Fetal MCG was isolated and normal R-peaks were marked to derive fetal HR and HRV in the time and frequency domains. We applied a mixed-effects model to investigate the effects of exercise, GA and fetal activity state.Results At 36 weeks GA, during the active fetal state, fetal HR was significantly lower in the exercise group (p=<0.0006). Post-hoc comparisons showed significantly increased HRV in the exercise group during the active fetal state at 36 weeks GA for both time and frequency domain measures.Conclusion These results indicate that regular maternal exercise throughout gestation results in significantly lower fetal HR and increased HRV.

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Authors
May, L. E., Glaros, A., Yeh, H.-W., Clapp, J. F., & Gustafson, K. M.
Affiliations
  • Kansas City University (US)
  • University of Kansas Medical Center (US)
  • Case Western Reserve University (US)
Corresponding author
May, Linda E.
ORCID
Venue
Early Human Development
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-04
Volume
86
Issue
4
Pages
213-217
ISSN
0378-3782 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.002
OpenAlex
W2032721430
Cited by
140
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Early Human Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Kansas
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
pregnancy, fetal heart rate, heart rate variability, fetal magnetocardiography, fetal heart development, gestational age
MeSH terms
Autonomic Nervous System, Female, Heart Rate, Fetal, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Exercise, Magnetocardiography

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