Pregnant women might need less pain-killing medication during childbirth if they did water aerobics consistently throughout their pregnancy, according to a news study published in the journal Reproductive Health.

The study conducted by researchers at the University of Campinas in Brazil involved 71 expectant mothers. Thirty-four of them took water aerobics classes three times a week during pregnancy, while the control group of 37 women did not. All women were previously sedentary and had low-risk pregnancies.

At the end of the study, the two groups showed some similarities. Both showed an increase in maximal rate of oxygen consumption during the second trimester, but that when down to baseline levels during the third trimester. Cardiac output also increased in both group as pregnancy advanced. Labor duration was virtually the same as well. Also, newborn results for average birth weight and age at delivery were similar, as were Apgar scores, which evaluate the physical condition of a newborn immediately after birth.

However, there were some differences between the two groups as well. Only 27 percent of the water aerobics groups asked for analgesics during delivery, while 65 percent of the non-exercise group made such request.

“We’ve shown that the regular practice of moderate water aerobics during pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of the mother or the child. In fact, the reduction in analgesia requests suggests that it can get women into better psycho-physical condition,” study author Rosa Pereira, of the University of Campinas in Sao Paulo, said in a news release.