Every mother and baby deserve a healthy start in life. Yet, every seven seconds, a preventable maternal or newborn death occurs worldwide (WHO, 2025). This World Health Day, observed on 7 April 2025, marks the launch of a global year-long campaign: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures. Led by WHO and its partners, this initiative calls for urgent action to improve maternal and newborn health and ensure better support for families now the into the future. 

Why This Matters 

The health of mothers and babies is fundamental to thriving communities and a healthier future for all. However, alarming statistics show that nearly 300,000 women die annually due to pregnancy-related complications (WHO, 2024), over 2 million newborns do not survive their first month and another 2 million are stillborn (UNICEF, 2020). With 4 out of 5 countries off track to meet 2030 maternal survival targets (WHO, 2025), change is needed now. 

The Role of Physical Activity in Maternal and Newborn Health 

• Reducing Pregnancy Complications 
  • Regular physical activity lowers the risk of gestational diabetes by up to 36% (Xie et al, 2024). 
  • Exercise helps reduce hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia, a leading cause of maternal mortality (Mottola et al., 2018, Taliento et al., 2024). 
  • Active women experience shorter labor times and a lower likelihood of needing cesarean sections (Rodriquez-Blanque et al., 2019); Dokl et al., 2020; Nascimento et al., 2012). 
• Supporting Fetal and Newborn Health 
  • Physical activity enhances placental function, improving oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus (Chae et al., 2022; Melzer et al., 2010). 
  • Babies born to physically active mothers tend to have healthier birth weights and reduced risks of metabolic disorders later in life (Menke et al., 2022; Wiebe et al., 2015). 
  • Exercise has been linked to lower risks of stillbirth and preterm birth (Zhang et al., 2024). 
• Enhancing Mental and Emotional Well-Being 
  • Physical activity is an important intervention to examine for the treatment and prevention of postpartum depression (Beth et al., 2014). 
  • Regular movement reduces stress and anxiety, improving maternal bonding and overall well-being (Daley et al., 2015). 

The Role of the ISPAH 8 Investments  

ISPAH’s 8 Investments That Work for Physical Activity highlight the importance of evidence-based physical activity strategies that can improve health outcomes across the lifespan. These investments support physical activity for women of childbearing age, during pregnancy and for children and families as they grow. For example, active environments, the integration of physical activity into routine healthcare, inclusive school and workplace policies and active urban design can all play a part in improved maternal health, reduced pregnancy-related complications, and better developmental outcomes for children worldwide.  

Despite the benefits, many women face barriers to staying active before and after childbirth, including lack of knowledge, societal norms, time constraints and healthcare provider hesitancy.

To address this, governments, healthcare professionals and communities could: 

How You Can Help on World Health Day 2025 

• Spread awareness of the day and share evidence-based insights using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll  

• Participate in events focused on maternal and newborn health 

• Advocate for policies that integrate physical activity in national and sub-national policies for mothers, children and families. 

• Support maternal health initiatives through donations or community involvement. 

Join the movement—because healthy pregnancies pave the way for healthier generations. 

References: 

• Bailit J.L., et al. (2010). Maternal and neonatal outcomes by labor onset type and gestational age. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 202(6), 606.e1–606.e6.  

• Beth A. Lewis, Dwenda K. Gjerdingen, Melissa D. Avery, John R. Sirard, Hongfei Guo, Katie Schuver, Bess H. Marcus. (2014). A randomized trial examining a physical activity intervention for the prevention of postpartum depression: The healthy mom trial, Mental Health and Physical Activity, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 42-49, ISSN 1755-2966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2013.11.002. 

• Chae, S. A., Son, J. S., & Du, M. (2022). Prenatal exercise in fetal development: a placental perspective. The FEBS journal, 289(11), 3058–3071. https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16173 

• Daley, A. J., et al. (2015). The effectiveness of exercise for the prevention and treatment of antenatal depression: systematic review with meta-analysis. BJOG. 2015;122(1):57-62 

• Dejan Dokl, Valerija Rogelj, David Bogataj. (2020). Smart Age-Friendly Villages: Literature Review and Research Agenda, IFAC-PapersOnLine, 10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.09.459, 55, 10, (928-933). 

• Hayman M, et al. (2023). Public health guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy from around the world: a scoping reviewBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 57:940-947. 

• ISPAH (2024). 8 Investments That Work for Physical Activity. Retrieved from ISPAH Website. 

• Menke, B. R., Duchette, C., Tinius, R. A., Wilson, A. Q., Altizer, E. A., & Maples, J. M. (2022). Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Newborn Body Composition: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(12), 7127. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127127 

• Mottola, M.F., et al. (2018). Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. BJSM, 52(21), 1339–1346.  

• Nascimento, S. L., Surita, F. G., & Cecatti, J. G. 2012. Physical exercise during pregnancy: a systematic review, 24(6), 387–394.  

• Poyatos-León, R., et al. (2017). Effects of exercise-based interventions on postpartum depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 20(3), 373–388.  

• Rodríguez-Blanque, R., Sánchez-García, J. C., Sánchez-López, A. M., & Aguilar-Cordero, M. J. (2019). Physical activity during pregnancy and its influence on delivery time: a randomized clinical trial. PeerJ, 7, e6370. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6370 

• Taliento, C., Piccolotti, I., Sabattini, A., Tormen, M., Cappadona, R., Greco, P., & Scutiero, G. (2024). Effect of Physical Activity during Pregnancy on the Risk of Hypertension Disorders and Gestational Diabetes: Evidence Generated by New RCTs and Systematic Reviews. Journal of clinical medicine, 13(8), 2198. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082198 

• UNICEF (2020). Ending preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2030. Retrieved from UNICEF Website. 

• WHO (2023). Aceleration towards the SDG for maternal health and child mortality. Retrieved from WHO Report. 

• WHO (2025). World Health Day 2025 Campaign. Retrieved from WHO Website. 

• Wiebe, H. W., et al. (2015). The effect of supervised prenatal exercise on fetal growth: a meta-analysis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 125(5), 1185–1194.  

• Xie, W., Zhang, L., Cheng, J. et al. (2024). Physical activity during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 24, 594. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18131-7 

• Zhang J, Xiao Y, Bai S, Lin S, Du S, Wang Z. The Association Between Exercise During Pregnancy and the Risk of Preterm Birth. Int J Womens Health. 2024;16:219-228, https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S447270