Active Pregnancy, Prevention Against the Effects of COVID-19

Historically and traditionally, the recommendations related to physical exercise during pregnancy have been based more on moral or cultural issues than on scientific evidence. During some phases of history, pregnancy has meant a period of seclusion for women (not only physical). One of the adverse consequences has been the common recommendation of rest as a general rule for pregnant women.

Scientific evidence from recent years has achieved a better understanding of the process of pregnancy and childbirth as well as maternal and fetal responses to exercise. Currently, both from a scientific and clinical/obstetric point of view, there is no doubt about the benefits of an active pregnancy for entire body of pregnant woman, and even her child. In fact, risks of a sedentary lifestyle are applicable to the pregnancy situation, even more with important associated complications during pregnancy and postpartum period.

Unfortunately, the impact of COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented global crisis, in this sense the necessary measures taken by the different administrations, especially in terms of confinement causes (from now on) a large number of complications affecting different populations. In summary a complex situation without established prevention strategies exists.

The pregnant population is, due to the nature of the gestation and delivery process, one of the population groups with the highest risk of adverse outcomes and associated complications and whose consequences include the mother, fetus, newborn and even children. According to an important body of scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining factor for the future human being to evolve regardless of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and observable postnatal pathologies in infants.

In addition, current publications report the large number and variety of alterations that the COVID-19 situation causes in pregnant women and that includes the entire female organism. This complex situation does not only affect aspects of a physical or physiological nature, but also psychic and emotional factors. In summary, a new state of confinement or similar situations in the near future (impossibility of groupings, distance between people), avoid during the daily life of pregnant women one of the important and recent recommendations made by the international scientific community: a pregnancy physically active.

This is especially relevant, due to the dangerous association between complications of a psychological or emotional nature during pregnancy with pre, peri and postnatal disorders (low birth weights, perinatal complications, altered and prolonged deliveries, etc.), which affect not only to the mother and can determine the health of the future human being. According to the scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining aspect in the health of the future human being and the prevention of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous and recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and different pathologies during and after pregnancy.

It is evident the change that COVID-19 and its effects will generate in the lifestyle of the pregnant population and the increased probability of suffering associated pathologies in the next 24-36 months. No preventive actions have yet been planned in Spain and its public hospitals against the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of pregnant women. It is urgent to design and perform an adequate strategy of intervention for its possible prevention. From the scientific point of view, the recommendations are clear and concrete, an aerobic exercise program, designed and supervised by professionals from the Sciences of Physical Activity and Sports, is the best option for pregnant women.

In this sense, in the last 30 years, physical exercise has proven to have many benefits for pregnant women, without causing risks or adverse effects on maternal-fetal well-being. This is confirmed by an important body of scientific literature on gestational physical exercise and its effects on pregnancy outcomes.