However, as a prenatal fitness and postnatal fitness specialist, I often hear the question: “Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy”. In short, yes. If you have discussed exercise with your prenatal healthcare team then exercise is safe and you can continue or start regular physical activity throughout your pregnancy.
According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American College of Sports Medicine, some of the benefits to prenatal fitness are:
It’s recommended that pregnant women should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week. This means you are moving enough to increase your heart rate, however, you can still talk normally. This can include walking, weight training, dancing, swimming, and yoga. Pregnant women who have been highly active going into pregnancy can continue with their program at first, as long as they feel well.
Never push your limits while pregnant. It is important to recognize your abilities and limits before starting prenatal exercise or postnatal exercise.
For a healthy pregnancy program that sets both mom and baby up for healthy days, the goals of your exercise program should be:
Expecting mother should avoid these exercises while pregnant:
If you’re interested in prenatal fitness training or postnatal fitness training, our personal training staff at Dr. Sarojini offers training programs for prenatal fitness and postnatal fitness. Our pre/postnatal personal trainers are certified specifically to train women who are expecting and new moms.
