Pregnancy and Exercise

A common misconception is that exercise during pregnancy increases the risk of complications or even miscarriage. On the contrary, exercise can play an important role in promoting health and well-being for pregnant women, before, during and after delivery. Studies have shown that exercise during pregnancy can: reduce stress, improve mood and sleep patterns, facilitate in an easier delivery, reduce the likelihood of induced labor, reduce weight gain during pregnancy, and enhance post-delivery weight loss.

Although exercise does not guarantee less discomfort during pregnancy, an easier labor, or a healthier baby, proper exercise can help your body adjust to the dramatic changes it undergoes during and after pregnancy, and return to its pre-pregnant state more quickly following delivery.

If you have been following a regular exercise program prior to your pregnancy, you should be able to maintain that program to some degree throughout your pregnancy but you need to be aware of the following:

• always consult your physician before starting any exercise program during pregnancy

• always listen to your body for signals about what’s enough and when you should cut back

• avoid exercise during very hot weather

• drink plenty of fluids

• increase caloric intake

• wear comfortable shoes that provide strong ankle and arch support (to stabilize joints that often become more lax during pregnancy)

• avoid laying flat on your back (which reduces blood flow to the womb), and always stretch before and after any exercise program

Anna Scire