Antenatal exercise and length of gestation among women attending antenatal clinic of the federal medical centre Owerri, southeast Nigeria

Background: There is general fear that stressful activities during pregnancy could predispose to preterm delivery as physical activity is one of the hypothesized risk factor for preterm birth or growth restriction. Previous studies investigating the effect of exercise during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth report inconsistent findings. Purpose: Our study aimed at examining the effect of participation in a planned exercise programme during pregnancy on the length of gestation in women from the Southeastern Nigeria. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with one test group and one control group involving 70 participants who were in their 2nd trimester of pregnancy (not less than 20 weeks gestation) and were recruited from among women attending antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Centre Owerri. Participants were screened and certified fit to exercise in pregnancy if they presented with none of the contraindications to exercising in pregnancy. Only those that met the inclusion criteria for the study were allowed to participate, and were randomized into exercise and control groups. The exercise group participated in twice per week exercise, each session lasting 45 to 60 minutes at moderate intensity of 12 to 14 on a scale of 20 of Borge Scale. Control group did not participate in any exercise programme within the period of study. Results: The result showed no increase in the risk of preterm labour and delivery. Duration of Gestation was rather significantly longer in the exercise group compared to the control (t(68) = 2.315, p = .026) but there was no post-datism. No significant difference was observed with regards to the wellbeing of babies born to mothers in either group as determined by the Apgar scores at 1 min and 5 mins. Conclusion(s): Based on the result of this study, we conclude that structured exercise performed at moderate intensity will not cause preterm delivery if all the guidelines for exercising in pregnancy are observed. Implications: Antenatal Exercises does not appear to have a negative effect on the duration of gestation, so pregnant women with no contraindications to exercise should be encouraged to participate in an organised exercise pro gramme supervised by a Physiotherapists who are experts in the area. Antenatal exercises should be made part of antenatal programme for pregnant women in places where this has not been done to enable the women enjoy the benefits of exercising in pregnancy without fear of preterm labour and delivery.