Exercising during pregnancy

Should you exercise during pregnancy? Unless you have complications, the answer is yes! Exercise can help you stay in shape and also prepare your body for labour, but you will need to make a few changes to your normal routine. Always consult your doctor before doing any exercise. Find out more.

While gentle exercise like yoga, swimming or walking provide the perfect antidote to many pregnancy niggles, it’s important to know which activities are safe and which ones should be avoided. Following a few simple rules will ensure you and your baby get all the benefits of exercise without putting yourselves under stress or at risk.

We all know that exercise is good for us, but taking gentle exercise when pregnant can be particularly beneficial. While there may be times during your pregnancy that you feel tired, exercise can in fact give you more energy, strength and stamina to cope.

Choosing a safe form of exercise

Whether you’re new to exercise, embarking on a strenuous new regime is not advised. Pregnancy exercise should be low-impact, gentle and relaxing. As a general rule, any activity you were used to performing before you became pregnant is usually safe to continue with, but always check with your midwife that what you’re planning to do is safe for you and your baby.

Some types of exercise are perfect for pregnancy:

• Pilates or yoga – classes which focus on gentle stretching and breathing are best. Strenuous forms of yoga such as Bikram and Ashtanga are not advised. It’s always worth letting your instructor know how many weeks pregnant you are before a class
• Walking or light jogging – a trip out into the fresh air can benefit both your mind and body. Keep it gentle and listen to your body
• Swimming – aquanatal classes are designed to let mums-to-be exercise safely as the water helps to support the extra weight
• Dancing – a dance class will not only tone your muscles, it will also lift your mood. To make things easier, avoid jumping, try keeping one foot on the floor, making fewer arm movements and missing out any sharp turns
• Cycling – although it’s safe to cycle during the early stages of pregnancy, as you progress to the later stages your centre of balance changes which can make you more wobbly and put you at risk of falling off. While it’s not a real problem on a static bike in the gym, it could prove dangerous out on the streets. If you do choose to cycle, a gel seat can make things more comfortable
• Weight training – weight training should only be performed if you trained before you became pregnant. If you’re training at a gym, ask an instructor to show you some pregnancy-safe positions as certain moves, such as lifting weights above your head or abdomen, should be avoided. Your gym may also require you to take a risk assessment

Activities to avoid

Some types of exercise can put a lot of strain on your body and put your baby at risk, that’s why it’s advised that you avoid the following kinds:

• Skiing
• Horse riding
• Backpacking
• Scuba-diving
• Heavy weight lifting
• High-impact sports, contact sports such as martial arts or boxing
• Activities involving heights like climbing or abseiling

If there’s a type of exercise you’d like to do and you’re not sure whether it’s safe, or if you have any general questions about keeping fit during pregnancy, you can ask our Careline team. They’re available by phone on 009647723342222 between the hours of 9am and 5pm Saturday to Thursday.