EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FETUS WEIGHT GAIN AND THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The goal of this revision is to evaluate how the physical activity influences healthy women and the fetus at birth. Secondly, according to the results obtained, to recommend some specific physical activities. Some researches have delivered opposite outcomes, and some of them didn't find any relation between the physical activity and the weight of the infants at birth, mainly due to the unaccuracy in measuring the frequency and intensity of the physical activities carried out by the pregnant women. However, it is interesting to highlight the outcomes from some researches. It was used to be thought that working out provided benefits exclusively to the pregnant women, however, the last researches have shown that the fetus also takes advantage of the physical activity of the mother. One of these benefits is an appropriate weight of the fetus at birth. (Clapp et al. 2002). According to "La FundaciOn Medicina Fetal de Barcelona" it is recommended that pregnant women carry out moderate-intensity aerobical activities. However, it is important to be carried out at least three times a week since if the activity is done just every once in a while it does not provide any benefit in the long term. Walking is the most complete physical activity for pregnant women but it is also recommended other activities like fitness, yoga, adapted pilates and riding stationary bycicle among other activities. Other researches highlight that the birthweight has an important role in the mortality, morbidity, infant development and adults' health. Infants with light birthweights have a higher risk of mortality and morbidity at both short term and long term. Infants weighing less than 4000gr are related to acute complications such as prolongued labour, shoulder dystocia, instrumental delivery and lacerations (Haakstad, LA; Bo K. 2011).