Pregnant women should exercise. Here’s why
At this point in pregnancy, the baby bump starts to show. The size of a woman’s belly doesn’t just depend on their growing baby but on the volume of amniotic fluid and thickening of the muscle layer surrounding the uterus.
Exercise is great for everyone, and pregnant women are not the exception. However, there are a few contraindications. Women who are carrying twins or multiples, have severe anemia, preeclampsia, or placenta previa should consult their doctor before doing any type of exercise. Those experiencing a typical, healthy pregnancy can likely continue as active as before.
Exercise has many benefits during pregnancy. It can relieve back pain, reduce swelling, strengthen the heart and blood vessels, normalize digestion and promote healthy weight gain [1].
Doctors recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week [1]. Some great options include brisk walking, swimming, water aerobics, stationary bike, yoga and Pilates. Contact or traumatic sports should be avoided, these include soccer, flag football, basketball, hockey, boxing, downhill skiing, horseback riding, surfing, mountain biking, gymnastics, and diving. Running is considered safe, but only for those who practiced it before becoming pregnant.
