What is a significant physiologic change during pregnancy in response to exercise?

During pregnancy, physiologic adaptations occur to accommodate the growing fetus and changes in the mother's body. One significant change in response to exercise is the adjustment of blood pressure. While it may vary slightly, the overall response to moderate exercise typically results in minimal changes to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout healthy pregnancies. Regular physical activity is beneficial and does not generally lead to significant increases in blood pressure, which helps maintain overall cardiovascular health for both the mother and the developing fetus.

In contrast, during exercise, heart rate generally increases to support the heightened metabolic demands of both mother and baby, thus a decrease in heart rate is not accurate. Systolic blood pressure may experience slight variations, but a significant increase would be concerning and unexpected during normal physical activity. The respiratory rate does increase during pregnancy, but not as a direct response to exercise; it is more related to the increased oxygen demands of both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, maintaining stable blood pressure levels during physical activity reflects a healthful adaptation to exercise during pregnancy.