Objectives: To investigate prospectively the impact of physical activity during pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment, considering relevant confounding factors, physical activity intensity and the trimester of pregnancy in which it is performed.
Methods: Prospective follow-up study of 791 pregnant women from the first trimester of pregnancy to 40 days postpartum. Three intensity levels of physical activity were assessed in each trimester of pregnancy by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Infant neuro development was assessed at 40 days postpartum by the third edition of the Bayley Scales for Infant Development-Third Edition (BSID-III). Analysis adjusted by sociodemographics, anxiety symptoms, lifestyle habits, quality of diet, body mass index, postpartum depressive symptoms and mother-infant attachment.
Results: ANCOVA analysis have shown that 40 days old infants of mothers in the moderate and high PA groups in the third trimester obtained 3.2 and 3.8 points higher scores respectively in the language total scale; and 4.1 and 5.1 points higher scores respectively in the motor total scale than infants of mothers in the low PAgroup.
Conclusion: Moderate to high intensity physical activity during pregnancy has a positive impact on infant neurodevelopment. More specific recommendations must be incorporated in international guidelines and into maternal education sessions to improve infants' neurodevelopment.
Keywords: Physical activity; cognitive development; neurodevelopment; pregnancy; psysical activity intensity.