Physical Activity in Pregnancy and the Perinatal Period: Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

Physical activity and exercise physiology in the context of pregnancy and the perinatal period constitute a dynamic field linking maternal behavior and physiology with lifelong health outcomes for both mother and child. Despite growing evidence supporting the safety and benefits of maternal exercise, physical inactivity during pregnancy remains prevalent worldwide. Physiological adaptations to exercise in this period influence cardiovascular function, metabolic regulation, placental efficiency, and fetal growth trajectories, shaping both short- and long-term health. While professional guidelines increasingly recommend individualized physical activity programs for pregnant individuals, questions remain concerning optimal training modalities, intensities, and timing, as well as their relationship to pregnancy complications and postpartum recovery. Recent work across exercise physiology, obstetrics, and developmental science has deepened understanding of maternal–fetal physiological interactions during physical activity. Evidence consistently supports that prenatal exercise promotes healthy gestational weight, metabolic regulation, psychological wellbeing, and favorable delivery outcomes, while enhancing neonatal body composition and early development. Yet, important questions remain regarding optimal exercise intensity and timing, and how maternal training modulates placental, hormonal, and inflammatory pathways. Translating such findings into clinical and public health practice requires integrated biomechanical and molecular approaches. This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge of how structured and habitual physical activity influences maternal adaptation and infant health throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. It seeks to identify effective, evidence-based exercise prescriptions, elucidate underlying physiological mechanisms, and clarify long-term outcomes for both mother and child. By bridging the laboratory, clinic, and community, this initiative encourages contributions that refine personalized strategies for promoting active and healthy pregnancy. To gather further insights into the multifactorial interactions between exercise physiology, maternal adaptation, and neonatal outcomes, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Mechanistic studies of maternal cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal responses to exercise during pregnancy• The effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise programs on gestational weight gain, glucose tolerance, and hypertensive disorders• Physical activity as an adjunct in managing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders• Exercise impacts on placental perfusion, vascular remodeling, and fetal development• Postpartum recovery and return-to-exercise strategies across diverse populations• Maternal exercise and infant body composition, autonomic activity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes• The influence of sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral factors on physical activity participation during pregnancy• Integrative models and digital monitoring systems for personalized physical activity interventions in pregnancyArticle Types: Original research, systematic and scoping reviews, clinical trials, mechanistic studies, methodological papers, and policy-oriented perspectives are all welcome. Topic editors: Linda E May, Filip Jevtovic, Breanna L. Wisseman, Hannah E Christie, DINGFENG ZHANG Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82322/physical-activity-in-pregnancy-and-the-perinatal-period-maternal-and-infant-health-outcomes