Exercise during pregnancy activates cardioprotective genes without a further increase in pregnancy-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Pregnancy and exercise promote cardiovascular remodeling: pregnancy is associated with prolonged, but reversible, cardiac volume overload secondary to increased blood volume and significant hormonal changes that together result in cardiac hypertrophy. During pregnancy, cardiac output increases gradually and reaches a peak from the second trimester through term. This increase in cardiac output is achieved by either gradual and substantial increases in heart rate and stroke volume or a fall in vascular resistance. In addition to hemodynamic alterations during pregnancy, the levels of circulating progesterone gradually increase with advancing gestational age, which contributes to pregnancy induced cardiac hypertrophy.