excercise in prenancy

• related: OBGYN

• Recommended exercises:
  • 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise (the patient should be able to converse while exercising) on most or all days of the week
  • Patients who are already conditioned for long-duration, high-intensity exercise can safely continue their regimen during pregnancy.
  • light weight (10lb) resistance training is safe
• Not recommended exercises
  • pregnancy shifts center of gravity, more risk of falling
  • avoid high risk of fall (gymnastic, skiing, horseback riding)
  • avoid contact sports
  • can swim but not scuba dive due to risk of air embolus formation and risk of fetal decompression sickness
  • training that involves marked straining, heavy resistance, or Valsalva maneuver is not recommended as it may decrease uteroplacental blood flow temporarily.

Exercise contraindicated in certain at-risk patient populations. Exercise should be avoided by:

• Patients at risk for preterm delivery
  • Cervical insufficiency
  • Preterm labor during current pregnancy
  • Preterm premature rupture of membranes
• Patients at risk for antepartum bleeding
  • Placenta previa
  • Persistent second- or third-trimester bleeding
• Patients with an underlying condition that could be exacerbated by exercise
  • Severe anemia
  • Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (eg, preeclampsia)
  • Restrictive lung disease
  • Severe heart disease

Cervical insufficiency, a structural cervical weakness associated with painless second-trimester pregnancy loss, is managed with placement of a cerclage. A cerclage is a permanent suture placed around the cervix to reinforce it and help prevent preterm delivery. Patients with a cerclage and history of cervical insufficiency should avoid exercise during pregnancy to minimize the risk of preterm delivery.