Information for a Healthy Pregnancy: Exercise

Pregnancy is not the time to get fit but rather to maintain your usual level of fitness.

The following guidelines are recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for pregnancy:

Regular exercise 3-4 times per week is better than intermittent. Short periods are best.
Always warm up with slow walking or stationary cycling with low resistance, and warm down at the end.
Never tolerate pain or discomfort. A change in baby's position can suddenly make exercise uncomfortable.
Monitor your heartbeat whilst you exercise. The ACOG has set 140 beats per minute as the maximum maternal heart rate during pregnancy.
The baby is deprived of oxygen if you allow your heart rate to exceed this level.
Breathe evenly while exercising.
Avoid heavy weights, contact sports, water skiing, scuba and snorkel diving below the surface.
Food intake must meet the extra energy requirements of pregnancy.
Avoid overheating whilst exercising wear loose cotton clothing and avoid spas and saunas.
Decrease your exercise as your pregnancy progresses into the third trimester because your cardiac reserves decrease.

Stop if you experience any of the following:-

We recommend low impact exercise such as walking or swimming while you are pregnant.