Doppler examinations of fetal and uteroplacental blood flow in AGA and IUGR fetuses before and after maternal physical exercise with the bicycle ergometer

Abstract

From the results obtained we conclude that maternal exercise does not significantly alter uterine and umbilical perfusion in AGA and IUGR pregnancies, suggesting an absence of change in the uterine vascular bed resistance. However, submaximal maternal exercise was followed by fetal cerebral vasodilatation and an increase of resistance in the fetal aorta that was more evident in IUGR fetuses. This might be due to slight fetal hemoglobin desaturation in those cases.