Most health care providers will not advise anyone against getting some exercise, but a pregnant woman will be subject to certain limitations and precautions for the sake of both her and her baby. If you are experiencing any health or obstetric problems during this pregnancy, or have had complications during a previous pregnancy, your doctor might advise against any exercise at all.
Previous Lifestyle
The American Pregnancy Association recommends that you base your level of exercise during pregnancy on how active you were before you conceived. If you have always maintained an exercise regimen, you can probably keep up with it if you modify it to accommodate your condition and clear it with your doctor, the association says. If you rarely or never exercised before, begin a pregnancy exercise program slowly, limit it to mild activities, and always speak with your physician about it, the American Pregnancy Association recommends.
Limitations
The American Family Physician website indicates that at some point, your center of gravity will change, which will affect your balance. Limit activities where balance contributes to safety. Hormonal changes might affect the laxity of your joints, making sprains more of a risk, so take precautions.
Considerations
Your calorie needs will increase while you are pregnant, even if you don't exercise. If you do exercise, American Family Physician recommends raising your caloric intake to correspond with your level of activity.
As you reach your third trimester, your body and your growing baby will probably dictate how much you can do. The American Pregnancy Association recommends listening to your body. You'll know when an activity is no longer comfortable and when you should consider curtailing it until after you deliver. Exercises that seemed effortless during the beginning of your pregnancy will probably become more difficult by the end, so don't push yourself when activities begin to feel awkward, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends.
Suggestions
American Family Physician recommends that if you have not regularly exercised before, stick to walking, swimming and low-impact aerobics. Cycling is OK if you use a stationary bicycle to accommodate balance issues. Sports you should not consider include gymnastics, horseback riding, skating, weightlifting, scuba diving or skiing, according to American Family Physician. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that running and strength training are usually OK if you previously engaged in these activities, but speak with your doctor to make sure.
Benefits
There is some evidence that if you previously exercised and continue to keep up a sensible exercise program during pregnancy, it can increase your endurance and shorten your labor -- or at least make it feel shorter, according to American Family Physician. Moderate exercise might also improve your posture and energy level and can help backaches and bloating, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Warnings
Strenuous exercise in your second and third trimesters might run the risk of decreased fetal weight gain, warns American Family Physician, and it is not appropriate if you suffer from pregnancy-induced hypertension, incompetent cervix or bleeding, among other complications.After your first trimester, avoid any activity that involves lying on your back because this can affect blood flow to your baby, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Stop exercising immediately and call your doctor if you experience chest pain, increased shortness of breath, contractions or any fluid leaking from your uterus, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends.
