Exercise Cautions

Pregnancy is a life-altering event. Everything becomes a blur as a pregnant mother endeavors to eat right, attend regular doctor appointments, make a happy home for Baby and adjust to the changes in her body. Add in study time for the plethora of information thrown at pregnant women and there doesn't seem to be room for much else. Doctors, however, are recommending pregnant women make room for one more thing: exercise.

According to studies endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there are a number of benefits a pregnant woman may reap by exercising a cumulative 30 minutes a day, most days a week. Benefits include keeping a pregnancy in the low-risk category, decreasing a woman's chances of tangling with pre-eclampsia, helping maintain an appropriate weight gain and a higher baby birth weight upon delivery.

Women who exercise during pregnancy also report less anxiety or depression and may have an easier delivery compared to their non-exercising counterparts. That being said, there are some potential potholes down the exercise road pregnant women should make note of.

In an article in American Family Physician, Dr. Thomas Wang and Dr. Barbara Apgar examined concerns regarding exercise during pregnancy and evaluated the best course of action for women who exercise while pregnant. According to Dr. Wang and Dr. Apgar, the growth of both the breasts and stomach create a change in a woman's center of gravity, creating potential problems with balance. There's also the issue of heart rate. A heart rate that is too high may cause seizures, body temperature issues, fainting spells and potential harm to the fetus.

Dr. Dennis Eisenberg, a practicing OB/GYN in Dallas, Texas, recommends women maintain their normal exercise routine. "Taking on new types of activities could be dangerous to a pregnant woman if she is not already fit," says Dr. Eisenberg. He suggests a heart rate of no more than 80 percent of a woman's stated maximum to avoid compromising the fetus.

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