A new Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirm the importance of exercise while pregnant to reduce risk of having a pre-term baby or other complications.
Researchers looked at data from over 2,000 pregnant women and compared those who exercised and those who did not The women who exercised were more likely to deliver vaginally—as opposed to having a C-section—and less likely to have gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
The key is to maintain your current level of activity, not increase it, according to the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Academy recommends that all women who have no complications with their pregnancies get “30 minutes or more of moderate exercise a day on most, if not all, days of the week.”
Women can do what they want but should avoid exercise that can risk abdominal trauma (like horseback riding or skiing).
They should tell their docs of their exercise plans and stop and tel their doc if they experience any pain, discomfort, or have any worries.
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