Exercising During Pregnancy FAQs

Many forms of exercise are completely safe during pregnancy and are beneficial to the health of you and your baby. If you already exercise regularly, you may continue to do so, although you may need to change your routine. If you do not exercise very often, you should start with some easy aerobic activity for as little as 5 minutes per day, working your way up to 30 minutes per day.

Pregnant women can safely enjoy low-impact aerobics, such as:

Walking

Bicycling

Swimming

Group fitness classes, such as spinning and yoga

Light to moderate weight and resistance training

Running – If you were already a runner or jogger before pregnancy, you may continue practicing your routine.

You should refrain from activities that put you at risk of falling or injury, especially high-impact exercises and contact sports.

Downhill and water skiing

Gymnastics

Horseback riding

Heavy weight lifting

Soccer, hockey, and other contact sports

Tennis, squash, and other sports that may throw you off balance

Exercising while lying on your stomach, or while lying on your back after the first trimester – this compresses the womb and could cut off circulation to the baby

Scuba diving – the dramatic changes in pressure could cause decompression sickness in the fetus

Running – If you are a beginner, pregnancy is not a good time to start running.

During pregnancy, your body releases hormones that loosen your body’s ligaments. This helps your pelvis to expand, but it affects the mobility of your other joints as well. This is why it’s important to avoid high-impact exercises that put you at a higher risk of injury.

Additionally, your growing belly will cause your center of gravity to shift forward, which can be difficult to get used to. You will want to avoid activities that require quick shifts in direction and rapid acceleration and deceleration to reduce the risk of falling. You will likely also experience more muscular strain and back pain from the stress of carrying the extra weight.

Exercising while pregnant could also lead to some overheating and dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercising. Plain water is fine, as well as electrolyte drinks without a lot of sugars. Although researchers haven’t come to a clear conclusion about how much caffeine is safe to consume during pregnancy, it’s probably best to avoid energy drinks.

Doctors recommend getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day during pregnancy. Exercise has many benefits for pregnant women, including:

Boosting your energy

Improving your sleep cycle

Elevating your mood

Developing better posture to reduce joint pain and muscle soreness

Relieving some unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, including constipation, bloating, and swelling

Promoting cardiovascular health

Preventing or treating gestational diabetes – a form of diabetes caused by pregnancy hormones that usually goes away after childbirth.

Invest in some comfortable, well-padded sneakers. You may need to go a size or two up to make room for swelling feet.

Wear a well-fitting sports bra to support tender or swollen breasts during exercise.

Skip rigorous outdoor exercise on hot, humid days to reduce the risk of overheating.

Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, before and after exercise as well as during.

If you’re just starting an exercise routine, start slowly with a few minutes each day. You can increase your time by a few minutes each week to work your way up to 30 minutes.

You should stop exercising and rest if you become ill or develop a fever. You should also stop and call your doctor if you experience:

Dizziness, fainting, or weakness

Headaches

Chest pain or shortness of breath

Pain and swelling in the calves

Vaginal bleeding

Contractions

Diminished movement from the fetus

Your water breaking