Exercise
Read a range of expert opinions and get Babble's take.
by the Babble Staff
November 30, 2006
Exercise
THE BABBLE TAKE
Most experts agree
that working out when pregnant is not only harmless, it is hugely beneficial.
There are precautions to be taken, and doctors advise listening carefully
to your body: be aware of any danger signs such as nausea, blurred
vision, or sharp pains in the abdomen or chest. When done regularly and in
moderation, exercise can help with a host of common pregnancy problems.
About.com's resident expert writes that women who exercise tend to have an
easier delivery, faster recovery and fewer pregnancy complaints. The CDC
guidelines are thirty minutes of moderate activity most days a week — not wholly different from their recommendations for non-pregnant people. Health professionals say that if you have been maintaining a regular exercise regimen before you got pregnant you can, and should, continue to do so through your pregnancy. If you start exercising after you get pregnant, you will need to be more careful, but exercise will still be hugely beneficial for both you and the baby. If hidden health benefits aren't enough of a motivational factor, then consider this; one expert says she finds women who exercise during their pregnancy have a far easier time losing their baby weight afterward.
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iVillage
"Exercise may reduce the rate of weight and fat gain during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. According to a recent study, common discomforts such as nausea, heartburn, leg cramps, insomnia, edema, hemorrhoids and round ligament pain (side aches) can be reduced by maternal exercise. And women who began an exercise program during pregnancy, felt better in successive trimesters."
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BabyCenter ®
"Your body is changing: Your center of gravity has shifted, you're carrying more weight, and you tire more quickly. That's why you should exercise with care and listen closely to your body when you exert yourself. Your body will let you know when you're pushing it to work too hard and entering the danger zone."
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About.com
"Exercising in pregnancy is good for you. It is also good for your baby. The benefits of exercise in pregnancy are not as well discussed as exercise at other points in your life. [...] Continuing to exercises will often help [...] common symptoms of pregnancy be less pronounced."
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American Pregnancy Association
"If you have been following a regular exercise program prior to your pregnancy, you should be able to maintain that program to some degree throughout your pregnancy. Exercise does not increase your risk for miscarriage."
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Pregnancy Today
"Ideally, women should not wait until after they have their babies to begin exercising,
according to Cram. 'The research is showing women who exercise throughout their pregnancies gain about eight pounds less and lose it much more quickly than women who have not exercised.'"
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