 Exercise
During PregnancyExercise during pregnancy:
Regular exercise, with the approval of your physician, can often help to minimize the
physical discomforts of pregnancy and help with the recovery after the baby is born.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women who
exercised and were physically fit before pregnancy can safely continue exercising
throughout the pregnancy.
However, always check with your physician or certified nurse midwife before beginning or continuing an exercise
program.
Exercise may not be safe if the pregnant woman has one or more of the following
conditions:
- preterm labor in current or past pregnancies
- leaking of amniotic fluid
- dizziness and/or fainting
- decreased fetal activity or other complications
- increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- certain health problems such as high blood pressure or heart disease
Types of exercise to avoid during pregnancy:
horseback riding
- any exercise that can cause a serious fall
- exercising on your back after the first trimester (because of reduced blood flow to the
uterus)
- vigorous exercise in hot, humid weather, as pregnant women are less efficient at
exchanging heat
- exercise involving the valsalva maneuver (holding one's breath during exertion), which
can cause an increased intra-abdominal pressure
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