Feasibility Study: Continuous Fetal Monitoring During Maternal Exercise

The Nemo Fetal Monitoring Sytem (Nemo Healthcare B.V., Veldhoven, the Netherlands) will be used for electrophysiological monitoring.

Inclusion criteria

• Minimal age of 18 years old
• Pregnant women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy and a gestational age between 30+0 and 40+0 weeks and days
• Oral and written informed consent is obtained
• Engage in aerobic exercise during pregnancy

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Insufficient knowledge of Dutch or English language
• Women with a multiple pregnancy
• Contra-indications for the Nemo Fetal Monitoring System (NFMS):

• Fetal and/or maternal cardiac arrhythmias
• Contraindications to abdominal placement (dermatologic diseases of the abdomen precluding preparation of the abdomen with abrasive paper)
• Women connected to an external or implanted electrical stimulator, such as a pacemaker (because of disturbance of the electrophysiological signal)
• Fetus with known congenital or chromosomal abnormalities
• Women with absolute or relative contraindications to aerobic exercise during pregnancy at time of inclusions and during maternal exercise:

• Mild or severe respiratory diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease and cystic fibrosis)
• Mild or severe acquired or congenital heart disease with exercise intolerance
• Uncontrolled or severe arrhythmia
• Vasa previa
• Type 1 diabetes
• IUGR
• Severe PE
• Cervical insufficiency
• Women with relative contraindications to aerobic exercise during pregnancy:

• Mild respiratory disorders
• Mild congenital or acquired heart disease
• Well-controlled type 1 diabetes
• Pre-eclampsia
• Cervical insufficiency
• Placenta previa
• Untreated thyroid disease
• Symptomatic, severe eating disorder
• Multiple nutrient deficiencies and/or chronic undernutrition
• Moderate-heavy smoking (> 20 cigarettes per day)