Neonatal behavioral profile of the offspring of women who continued to exercise regularly throughout pregnancy.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that continuing regular exercise throughout pregnancy alters early neonatal behavior. The offspring of 34 women who exercised were compared with those of 31 demographically similar control subjects. All women had normal antenatal courses. Behavior was assessed at 5 days after birth with the Brazelton Scales. The offspring of the exercising women performed better in 2 of the 6 behavioral constellations when examined at 5 days after birth. The scores reflecting their ability to orient to environmental stimuli were (mean +/- SEM) 7.6 +/- 0.1 and 6.5 +/- 0. 3, respectively, and the scores reflecting their ability to regulate their state or quiet themselves after sound and light stimuli were 6. 6 +/- 0.2 and 4.9 +/- 0.3, respectively. The scores reflecting habituation (7.9 +/- 0.2 and 8.0 +/- 0.1, respectively), motor organization (5.7 +/- 0.1 and 5.5 +/- 0.1, respectively), autonomic stability (5.9 +/- 0.2 and 5.5 +/- 0.3, respectively), and behavioral state range (4.1 +/- 0.2 and 4.5 +/- 0.3, respectively) were not significantly different. These data indicate that the neonates born of exercising mothers have a different neurobehavioral profile as early as the fifth day after birth.