Modifications must be made during pregnancy when it comes to playing contact sports (such as soccer) and aerobic exercise. There are changes occurring in your body that could affect the safety of both you and your baby.

During pregnancy, your body secretes a hormone called relaxin. The purpose of this hormone is to allow your body greater flexibility, to fit your baby into your pelvis and to birth your baby. This relaxin, however, does not just go to your pelvis. It affects many of your other joints, such as ankles, knees, shoulders, etc. and can make you more prone to injury.

In addition, as your uterus becomes larger, your center of gravity becomes higher and moves forward, which makes you unstable. The combination of looser joints and an unstable center of gravity puts you at risk for falling. If you fall or have any type of serious abdominal trauma, this could detach your placenta. The placenta is your baby's lifeline. If it comes away from the wall of the uterus, you must deliver the baby immediately! Soccer is a contact sport and puts you at a high risk for abdominal trauma.

Finally, remember that when you are doing aerobic activities, you must take care that you do not get overheated. Your baby has no mechanism for cooling down.

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