Exercising During Pregnancy: Benefits, Exercises To Do, Avoid And Tips To Follow

What Exercises Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Aerobic exercises, also called cardiovascular exercise, are safe and considered the most beneficial exercises during pregnancy, these include the following: [8].

• Walking
• Cycling
• Swimming [9]
• Aerobic dance
• Yoga
• Stair steppers
• Ellipticals

Studies suggest that pregnant women should perform a moderate-intensity exercise for 20-30 minutes daily for five days each week. Women who were exercising before pregnancy can continue as before during pregnancy while making changes in their exercise programme as the pregnancy progresses. And women who were not active before pregnancy can exercise for five minutes per day and then gradually increase 5-10 minutes and perform exercise each week [10] [11].

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Exercises To Avoid During Pregnancy

• Avoid any exercise that let you to lie flat on your back, particularly after 16 weeks of pregnancy.
• Do not take part in contact sports such as squash, tennis, judo, basketball, football and kickboxing.
• Avoid doing horse riding and gymnastics.
• Avoid taking part in scuba diving, skiing and skydiving [12].
• Avoid doing any exercise that lets you hold your breath.
• Avoid jumping, skipping or running exercises.
• Avoid deep knee bends, full sit-ups, double leg raises and straight-leg toe touches exercises.
• Exercises that require you to lie on your back or right side for more than three minutes should be avoided, especially after your third month of pregnancy.
• Avoid doing waist-twisting while standing exercise.

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Who Should Not Exercise During Pregnancy?

Before beginning any exercise programme, pregnant women should consult with their doctor. Your doctor will provide you personal exercise guidelines based on your medical history. Your doctor might advise you not to exercise if you have the following problems: [10]

• Some forms of heart and lung disease
• Preeclampsia
• Severe anaemia
• Weakened cervix
• Placenta problems
• Persistent vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester
• Preterm premature rupture of membranes
• Preterm labour

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Exercise Tips To Follow During Pregnancy

Before starting to exercise, it is recommended to warm up and stretch your body for five minutes and end your exercise session with gentle stretching. Here are some exercise tips to follow during pregnancy:

• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes and a well-fitting bra.
• Choose supportive shoes specific to the type of exercise you are doing to help prevent injury.
• Exercise on a flat surface to prevent injury.
• Avoid overheating your body when exercising.
• Eat your meal at least one hour before exercising.
• Drink water before, during and after your workout to keep your body hydrated.
• After doing certain floor exercises, get up slowly and gradually to prevent dizziness.
• Do not exhaust yourself when exercising.
• Try to be physically active as much as possible, even five minutes of walking exercise is enough.
• Avoid doing strenuous exercise in hot and humid weather.

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When To Stop Exercising During Pregnancy?

You need to stop exercising and seek medical attention immediately if you experience the following problems:

• Chest pain
• Muscle weakness
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Headache and dizziness
• Calf pain, swelling or redness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vaginal bleeding
• Sudden swelling of the ankles, hand or face
• A reduction in your baby's movement
• Weakness or fatigue
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Leakage of amniotic fluid
• Have difficulty in walking
• Have persistent uterine contractions that continue even after rest

What Pregnancy Changes May Affect Your Exercise?

Physical changes that occur during pregnancy create more demands on your body. Keep in mind that you need to listen to your body and adjust your exercise routine accordingly.

• Your developing foetus and other internal organs require oxygen. When you exercise and your muscles work harder, your body uses more oxygen. To cope with this extra demand of the body, your breathing increases. So, take rest between your exercises and avoid overexertion.
• Hormones such as relaxin are produced during pregnancy, which loosens the ligaments and this could increase your risk of joint injuries.
• As pregnancy progresses, your weight will increase and you will experience changes in body shape and weight distribution. This extra weight also puts pressure on the joints and muscles in your lower back and pelvic area, which can alter your balance and coordination during exercise.
• Your blood pressure drops during the second trimester of pregnancy so avoid changing exercise positions rapidly to prevent dizziness.

To Conclude...

Exercising regularly can boost the health of both the pregnant woman and her baby and it can also make pregnancy, labour and post-delivery recovery easier. However, it's important to exercise safely during pregnancy to prevent any injuries. Also, pregnant women should consult with their doctor before starting any exercise programme.