How safe is exercise during pregnancy?

Two lines on a home pregnancy test, a flickering heartbeat on ultrasound, and suddenly your world has changed: you’re pregnant! Regardless of where this new path takes you, you may start to examine your daily decisions in a new way as you discover an intense drive to protect the growing baby inside you. Even your exercise routines may come under scrutiny, particularly if late-night Googling has you second-guessing everything that you believed you knew. Just how safe is exercise during pregnancy? The short answer? Exercise during pregnancy is not only safe, it’s encouraged. An overriding principle for pregnancy is: what is good for mom is good for baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion note that exercising during pregnancy may reduce weight gain risk for gestational diabetes, particularly in overweight or obese women risk for cesarean delivery. Plus, it helps pregnant women prevent or manage inevitable aches and pains. Regular physical activity during pregnancy may help psychological well-being and possibly even reduce depression and anxiety during the postpartum period. Additionally, women who exercise during pregnancy may recover more quickly after the birth. How active should you be? Best-laid plans aside, the ACOG recommends engaging in moderate activity for 20 to 30 minutes on three to seven days per week throughout your pregnancy. It is safest to avoid exercising for longer t...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Source Type: blogs