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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Pregnant mothers who take water aerobics classes during pregnancy may reduce their need for pain medication during labor.
A team of researchers from at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Sao Paulo, Brazil, investigated the effects of water aerobics classes on a group of 71 expectant mothers. About half the women were randomly assigned to attend three 50 minutes sessions a week throughout their pregnancy; the other group did not take part in water aerobics.
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We found no statistically significant differences in the duration of labor or the type of delivery between the two groups. However, only 27 percent of women in the aquarobics group requested analgesia, compared to 65 percent in the control group. This represents a 58 percent reduction in requests, Rosa Pereira, the studys lead researcher, was quoted as saying.
Research also showed water aerobics is a safe form of exercise for pregnant women.
Weve shown that the regular practice of moderate water aerobics during pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of the mother or the child. In fact, the reduction in analgesia requests suggests that it can get women into better psycho-physical condition, Pereira was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Reproductive Health, 2008
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