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Cited by 82Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlBirth, Development, and HealthPhysical Activity and Health

Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences infant heart rate variability at one month of age

May, Linda E., Scholtz, Susan A., Suminski, Richard, Gustafson, Kathleen M.·2014·Early Human Development
DOI 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2013.11.001
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Abstract

Background Previously, we reported that regular maternal aerobic exercise during pregnancy was associated with lower fetal heart rate (HR) and higher heart rate variability (HRV) at 36weeks gestation. We now report the effect of maternal exercise on infant HR and HRV in subjects who remained active in the study at the one-month follow up visit.Aims We aimed to determine whether differences in fetal cardiac autonomic control related to maternal physical activity were an in utero phenomenon or would persist 1month after birth.Study design Magnetocardiograms (MCGs) of infants born to regularly exercising (≥30min of aerobic activity, 3 times per week; N=16) and non-exercising (N=27) pregnant women were recorded using a fetal biomagnetometer. Normal R-peaks were marked to derive infant HR and HRV in time and frequency domains, including the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), the standard deviation of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (SDNN), and power in the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands. Group differences were examined with Student's t-tests.Results Infants born to exercising women had significantly higher RMSSD (P=0.010), LF power (P=0.002), and HF power (P=0.004) than those born to women who did not engage in regular physical activity while pregnant.Conclusion Infants born to women who participated in regular physical activity during pregnancy continued to have higher HRV in the infant period. This suggests that the developing cardiac autonomic nervous system is sensitive to the effects of maternal physical activity and is a target for fetal programming.

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Authors
May, L. E., Scholtz, S. A., Suminski, R., & Gustafson, K. M.
Affiliations
  • East Carolina University (US)
  • University of Kansas Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Gustafson, Kathleen M.
ORCID
Venue
Early Human Development
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-01
Volume
90
Issue
1
Pages
33-38
ISSN
0378-3782 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2013.11.001
OpenAlex
W2078813265
Cited by
82
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5
FWCI
4.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Early Human Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
pregnancy, cardiac autonomic nervous system, fetal programming, magnetocardiography, maternal physical activity
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Exercise, Case-Control Studies

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