Get health benefits when you exercise safely during pregnancy
Exercise can improve your overall health during pregnancy. Exercise when pregnant can help moderate weight gain, ease back pain and reduce constipation. It can decrease your risk of complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Exercise safely during pregnancy, and you may also experience stress relief, decreased anxiety and improved sleep.
Our San Antonio OBGYNs advise that, if you are generally healthy, moderate-intensity exercise is safe. We encourage women to exercise during pregnancy. Even if it wasn’t already part of your daily routine, you can begin a new program of safe exercise when pregnant.
Tips for how to exercise safely during pregnancy
Safety is always important in exercise, but special care should be taken during pregnancy. Our San Antonio OBGYNs note important tips for how to exercise safely during pregnancy.
- Avoid contact sports or any activity in which you could get hit in the stomach or fall. For example, soccer, basketball, road cycling and skiing should be avoided. Consider an exercise program that includes walking, swimming, riding a stationary bike, or prenatal yoga.
- Weight training is beneficial, but there are some key guidelines to follow. Opt for low weight with more repetitions, avoiding heavy weights. Resistance bands and bodyweight exercises provide excellent strength training that is safe for pregnant women.
- Do not lie flat on your back to exercise after the first trimester. It can restrict your blood flow.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your workout.
- Avoid becoming overheated, especially in the first trimester. Do not exercise outside on hot, humid days, and avoid exercise classes in a heated space, such as hot yoga or Pilates.
Signs to stop exercise when pregnant
Stop exercising if you feel dizzy or faint, are short of breath, experience chest pain or headache, have discomfort or swelling in your calves, or notice bleeding or other leaking from your vagina. Contact your physician should you have any of these symptoms.
Before beginning any exercise program while pregnant, it is important to discuss it with your OBGYN.
Our San Antonio OBGYNs want to help you have a healthy pregnancy and exercise safely during pregnancy. Contact Legacy Women’s Health with any questions about exercise when pregnant.