PSA: Exercising while pregnant may cut your child’s asthma risk by half
Canva/Motherly
Researchers found that moms who exercised at least three times a week during pregnancy reduced their child’s risk of developing asthma in half.
Canva/Motherly
Hi, I’m a mom of five, and let me tell you—pregnancy knocked me out each time. The most “exercise” I got was moving from the couch to the minivan to the trash can to throw up again (special thanks to hyperemesis gravidarum). So, zero judgment here for how any mom handles one of life’s most physically and mentally taxing experiences.
That said, if you’re looking for a little motivation to move your body while growing a tiny human, a new study from Finland might be just what you need: Researchers found that moms who exercised at least three times a week during pregnancy reduced their child’s risk of developing asthma in half.
The details
The study, which followed nearly 1,000 mother-child pairs from pregnancy through age seven, showed that this link held up even when factoring in other variables like maternal weight, stress levels, nutrition, and environmental factors.
“Our findings strongly suggest that maternal exercise during pregnancy has an independent positive effect on the fetus and on the later health of the child. We don’t yet know why maternal exercise manifests as a reduced risk of asthma in the child, but one possibility is that it supports fetal lung maturation,” Emma-Reetta Musakka, BM, MSc, doctoral researcher at University of Eastern Finland, said in a news release.
Why this matters
Asthma is a leading chronic disease in children. Currently, there are about 4.9 million children under the age of 18 with asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Until now, avoiding cigarette smoke has been one of the only proven ways to reduce a child’s risk, according to Dr Pirkka Kirjavainen, the lead researcher of the study. This research suggests that moderate exercise—think brisk walks, prenatal yoga, or swimming—could be just as protective.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week for pregnant women. Encouragingly, the study didn’t show additional benefits for exercising more than three times a week. So, there’s no need to overdo it. (Big relief.)
Related: 9 safe and simple pregnancy exercises for each trimester
The big picture
We’re not saying you have to go run a marathon with a baby on board. But if you’re able to sneak in some movement during pregnancy, it could pay off big for your baby’s health.
Mom’s wellbeing and baby’s wellbeing are directly connected—literally and figuratively. So this study really underscores that when moms are supported in their wellbeing, it’s a win for the whole family.
Pregnancy is hard—full stop. Mothers deserve more support—from preconception to postpartum—to make caring for themselves easier. Because when moms thrive, kids do, too.
Related:Your preconception health is just as important as your prenatal health
Sources:
- Relationship between mom’s physical activity and child’s asthma. News Medical. 2024. “Physical activity in pregnancy reduces asthma risk in offspring.”
- Mom’s exercise during pregnancy. Advancement of Science (AAAS). 2024. “Maternal exercise during pregnancy may protect the child against asthma.”
- Asthma in children. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 2024. “Asthma Facts.”
- WHO’s exercise recommendation for pregnant women. WHO. 2020. “Who Guidelines On Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour.”
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