Exercise During Pregnancy

Authors: Ashlynn Parker PT, DPT

Is exercise safe during pregnancy? The answer for most women is YES!! In fact, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states, “If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue or start regular physical activity.” They go on to say providers should encourage their patients who have normal pregnancies to continue or commence exercise (both aerobic and strengthening) to maintain optimal health during pregnancy. Multiple studies have not only shown exercise to be safe for normal, low-risk pregnancies, but they also have repeatedly shown multiple benefits including: higher incidence of vaginal delivery, lower incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus, lower incidence of gestational hypertensive disorders, lower incidence of excessive gestational weight gain, lower incidence of preterm birth, lower incidence of lower birth weight, and lower incidence of cesarean birth to name a few! Exercise also has a positive impact on mood and has been shown to make labor less exhausting and shorter for many women.

Exercise during pregnancy can be confusing due to your body changing, myths, opinions not based on research/science (ex: “pregnant women should not lift weights” which is FALSE), urinary or fecal incontinence, diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, and being unsure of where to start. Come in and see one of our pelvic rehab therapists. After an individual exam, we can easily help patients create an individualized plan to meet their goals in a safe way no matter where they are in their pregnancy journey.