Research and guidelines that support Aquanatal® classes

This page contains links to research, guidelines and other resources that report on the recommendations of safe exercise in pregnancy and after birth; specifically, water exercise like Labour Loot’s Aquanatal® classes.

Exercise in pregnancy; benefits, frequency, types of exercise and considerations including water-based activities like Aquanatal® classes
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) consumer pamphlet ‘Exercise during pregnancy’ (2023)
Australian Government Department of Health: Guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy consumer pamphlet

Returning to sport or exercise after the birth; how it affects your pelvic floor muscles, risk of back pain, how to do it safely, exercise guidelines
Continence Foundation of Australia ‘Returning to sport or exercise after the birth’ (2021)

Bladder and bowel control in pregnancy, pelvic floor muscles, exercise, sex, haemorrhoids and prolapse
Continence Foundation of Australia - The Pregnancy Centre: Pelvic floor health for expectant and new mums

Evidence supoprting the benefits of exercise including water exercise like Aquanatal® classes

Regular exercise (commenced in early pregnancy) reduces the risk of hypertensive disorders (high blood pressure)
Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) ‘Hypertension in Pregnancy Guideline’ (2023)

Women who exercise in water during pregnancy can experience a shorter labour
Physical activity during pregnancy and its influence on delivery time: A randomised clinical trial (2019)

For first time mums, pelvic floor exercises can shorten the first and second stage of labour and does not increase risks of episiotomy, instrumental birth or perineal tears
The effect of antenatal pelvic floor muscle training on labour and delivery outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis (2015)

Regular water exercise in pregnancy prevents excessive maternal weight gain with no detrimental effects on baby’s birth weight
Cochrane Study; Aquatic activities during pregnancy prevent excessive maternal weight gain and preserve birth weight: A randomised clinical trial (2018)

Moderate intensity water exercise during pregnancy decreases postpartum anxiety and depressive symptoms and is safe for mothers and their newborns
Effectiveness of moderate-intensity aerobic water exercise during pregnancy on quality of life and postpartum depression: A multi-centre, randomised controlled trial (2021)

Water aerobics for pregnant women is safe and not associated with any change in maternal body composition, type of birth, pre-term birth rate, baby well-being or baby weight
Water aerobics II: Maternal body composition and perinatal outcomes after a program for low-risk pregnant women (2009)

Regular, moderate water aerobics is not detrimental to the health of a woman or baby and women are less likely to request analgesia during labour
Water aerobics in pregnancy: Cardiovascular response, labour and neonatal outcomes (2008)

Benefits of exercising in water in pregnancy
Continence Foundation of Australia - The Pregnancy Centre: ‘Pregnancy and exercise’ (2021)

Podcast about the benefits of exercise in pregnancy
The Great Birth Rebellion podcast
Episode 34 – Exercise in pregnancy (2023)

Video about the benefits of exercise and recommendation for women to participate in aqua classes in pregnancy (aqua classes are mentioned at the 2 minute 14 second mark)
Mater Mothers Queensland (2019)

Sydney Aquanatal®: Why do Aquanatal®? (2019)
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Sydney Aquanatal®: 15 tips for safe exercise during pregnancy (2019)
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