It was already known that practicing a moderate exercise during pregnancy favored the mother and the baby, but now a group of researchers from the University of Granada have shown that performing a moderate gymnastics program in the water helps prevent weight gain,Gestational diabetes and reduces the number of caesarean sections.In addition, women who exercise have less macrosomic babies (more than 4 kilos at birth), prolong the breastfeeding of their children, decreases postpartum depression and improves sleep quality.

This underwater exercise table has been designed by the professor of the University of Granada María José Aguilar Cordero, in collaboration with Grace López Contreras, a specialist in the aquatic environment and researcher of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of the UGR, and theMotrona Raquel Sánchez Blanque.

A group consisting of more than 100 women currently participates in a program carried out in the new pool covered with the UGR Faculty of Sports Sciences, in which, in the hands of experts, the muscles, tendons and tendons work specifically workligaments involved in childbirth.

The complex consists of a small pool, where the exercises are carried out to strengthen pelvic soils and the muscles involved in pregnancy and childbirth, and a large one, where the cardiovascular exercises of swimming technique are performed to achieve an adequate statePhysics of women while learning the correct realization of swimming styles.

The exercise program is subject to current regulations for the performance of physical exercise during pregnancy, currently marked by the American and Obstetrician College and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Sleep welfare and quality

Professor María José Aguilar Cordero points out that the women who participate in this program, "say they feel much better during her gestation and have improved their sleep quality."All of them go three times a week, for more than an hour to the pool in the morning and afternoon.

The preliminary results of this research have shown that the participants have a higher quality of sleep, less weight gain, feel more agile and physical form, which has an impact on getting less tired of their daily lives.

«Psychological aspects have also improved since they are very motivated both for physical activity and to breastfeed more than 6 months.In general, there is a high degree of satisfaction among women for the good evolution of pregnancy, ”says Aguilar Cordero.

Precisely this week, the UGR professor has received recognition of her research career through a prize awarded by the Spanish Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society (Senpe).