Obstetrics – Excercise and Pregnancy

Swimming, Walking, Stretching, Low impact aerobics, Golfing, Stationary cycling

High-level balance activities, Skiing, Water skiing, Scuba diving, Horseback riding, Contact sports, Skating, Strenuous lifting

Pregnant women are encouraged to continue exercise activity at a moderate rate during a low risk pregnancy. Guidelines permit women to remain at 50-60% of their maximal heart rate for approx. thirty minutes per session. Women must monitor their heart rate intermittently to ensure that they are maintaining their target heart rate. Non-weight bearing activities are preferred due to the continuous change in the center of gravity/balance. Loose clothing is advised to allow for adequate heat loss and adequate fluids are required during exercise. * Women should avoid becoming overtired and should not exercise in the supine position after the first trimester

1. During pregnancy, women can continue to exercise and derive health benefits even from mild to moderate exercise routines. Regular exercise (at least 3 times a week) is preferable to intermittent activity 2. Women should avoid exercise in the supine position after the first trimester. The position is associated with decreased cardiac output in most pregnant women. Since the remaining cardiac output will be distributed away from spanchnic beds (including the uterus) during vigorous exercise, it should be avoided. Prolonged periods of motionless standing should be avoided

3. Women should be aware of decreased oxygen available for aerobic exercise during pregnancy. They should be encouraged to modify the intensity of their exercise according to maternal symptoms. Pregnant women should stop exercising when fatigued and not exercise to exhaustion. Weight bearing exercises, under some circumstances, may be continued at similar intensities when not pregnant. Non-weight bearing exercises, such as cycling or swimming, will minimize risk of injury and facilitate exercise during pregnancy

4. Morpholic changes in pregnancy should serve as a relative contraindication to types of exercise in which loss of balance could be detrimental to maternal/fetal-well being, especially in the third trimester. Any type of exercise involving the potential for even mild abdominal trauma should be avoided 5. Pregnancy requires an additional 300 kcal/day in order to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Women should be careful to ensure adequate diet

6. Pregnant women who exercise in the first trimester should augment heat dissipation by ensuring adequate hydration, appropriate clothing and optimal environmental surroundings during exercise 7. Many of the physiological and morphological changes of pregnancy persist 4-6 weeks postpartum. Thus pre-pregnacy exercise routines should be resumed gradually based upon woman's physical capability