Guide | Exercise During Pregnancy Is Beneficial, but Moderation Is Key
In fall 2013, a set of photos sparked intense controversy on social media. They showed Lea-Ann Ellison, 35 and eight months pregnant, lifting a heavy barbell in a gym. Ellison, a former bodybuilder, delivered a healthy baby boy several weeks later. But the images of a woman nearing delivery doing high-intensity strength training quickly prompted heated debate online.
Dr. Raul Artal, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said: "Each time she performs that movement, blood is diverted from her internal organs to her muscles. In a sense, it is like stepping on the fetus's umbilical cord every few minutes."
Artal stressed that not all exercise during pregnancy is harmful. Moderate exercise is beneficial and can help prevent gestational diabetes. The key question is how much exercise is too much.
Medical guidance: Stay active, but exercise thoughtfully
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provides clear guidance. Pregnant women should avoid contact sports and activities with a risk of falling or abdominal impact. Other exercise plans should be assessed jointly by the patient and her doctor.
For most healthy pregnant women, pregnancy does not mean giving up exercise. They can usually continue activities they did before pregnancy, especially low-impact options such as walking, swimming, and dancing.
ACOG also notes that some pregnant women should avoid exercise entirely, including those with heart or lung disease, cervical insufficiency, gestational hypertension (preeclampsia), placental abnormalities, vaginal bleeding, or a high risk of preterm birth. Regardless of health status, patients should obtain their doctor's approval before starting any fitness program.
High-risk activities to avoid during pregnancy
Dr. Artal notes that although most routine exercise is safe during pregnancy, some activities should wait until after delivery:
Scuba diving: Decompression releases gases that have accumulated in the body. A fetus cannot manage decompression, and gas bubbles can be fatal.
Contact sports: Soccer, basketball, football, and similar sports carry a risk of abdominal impact that may endanger the fetus.
Downhill skiing: In addition to the risk of falling, elevations above 6,000 feet reduce the fetus's oxygen supply. Lower-risk cross-country skiing may be an alternative.
Heavy weightlifting: Light to moderate resistance training may be acceptable, but heavy lifting is not advised. It may affect placental blood flow and also creates risks of slipping or abdominal impact from a barbell.
Summary: Exercise should be tailored to the individual
Exercise during pregnancy can improve circulation, strengthen muscles, and help prevent pregnancy complications. However, each patient's health and risks differ, so someone else's story of running a marathon while pregnant should not be treated as a model.
Communication between the patient and her doctor is essential to a safe exercise plan. Pregnancy is not an illness, but it is not a superhuman challenge either.
Knowledge | Exercise During Pregnancy Is Beneficial, but Moderation Is Key
Guide | Exercise During Pregnancy Is Beneficial, but Moderation Is Key
In fall 2013, a set of photos sparked intense controversy on social media. They showed Lea-Ann Ellison, 35 and eight months pregnant, lifting a heavy barbell in a gym. Ellison, a former bodybuilder, delivered a healthy baby boy several weeks later. But the images of a woman nearing delivery doing high-intensity strength training quickly prompted heated debate online.
Dr. Raul Artal, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said: "Each time she performs that movement, blood is diverted from her internal organs to her muscles. In a sense, it is like stepping on the fetus's umbilical cord every few minutes."
Artal stressed that not all exercise during pregnancy is harmful. Moderate exercise is beneficial and can help prevent gestational diabetes. The key question is how much exercise is too much.
Medical guidance: Stay active, but exercise thoughtfully
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provides clear guidance. Pregnant women should avoid contact sports and activities with a risk of falling or abdominal impact. Other exercise plans should be assessed jointly by the patient and her doctor.
For most healthy pregnant women, pregnancy does not mean giving up exercise. They can usually continue activities they did before pregnancy, especially low-impact options such as walking, swimming, and dancing.
ACOG also notes that some pregnant women should avoid exercise entirely, including those with heart or lung disease, cervical insufficiency, gestational hypertension (preeclampsia), placental abnormalities, vaginal bleeding, or a high risk of preterm birth. Regardless of health status, patients should obtain their doctor's approval before starting any fitness program.
High-risk activities to avoid during pregnancy
Dr. Artal notes that although most routine exercise is safe during pregnancy, some activities should wait until after delivery:
Scuba diving: Decompression releases gases that have accumulated in the body. A fetus cannot manage decompression, and gas bubbles can be fatal.
Contact sports: Soccer, basketball, football, and similar sports carry a risk of abdominal impact that may endanger the fetus.
Downhill skiing: In addition to the risk of falling, elevations above 6,000 feet reduce the fetus's oxygen supply. Lower-risk cross-country skiing may be an alternative.
Heavy weightlifting: Light to moderate resistance training may be acceptable, but heavy lifting is not advised. It may affect placental blood flow and also creates risks of slipping or abdominal impact from a barbell.
Summary: Exercise should be tailored to the individual
Exercise during pregnancy can improve circulation, strengthen muscles, and help prevent pregnancy complications. However, each patient's health and risks differ, so someone else's story of running a marathon while pregnant should not be treated as a model.
Communication between the patient and her doctor is essential to a safe exercise plan. Pregnancy is not an illness, but it is not a superhuman challenge either.
Source:
Collected online