Exercising During Pregnancy is not only safe for most low-risk pregnancies, but also recommended! ACOG recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week throughout pregnancy. Their latest guidance now includes strength training as a recommended form of exercise, alongside yoga and walking.
Exercising During Pregnancy has been associated with:
Faster labor (probably due to being able to maintain an upright position and move longer throughout labor, which can help with labor progress);
Increase likelihood of vaginal delivery;
Decreased pain and discomfort;
Decrease the likelihood of prenatal complications such as gestational diabetes or hypertension.
But, how does Exercising During Pregnancy benefit your baby?? When we understand how it could benefit our baby, and not just ourselves, we may find we are more motivated to exercise. In our gym, we find we tend to have more prenatal clients over postpartum, probably due to this motivation: exercise benefits both of us.
Exercising During Pregnancy: Benefits for your baby
Baby reaps the benefits of your prenatal exercise! Baby better tolerates stress during pregnancy and labor as a result of conditioning from exercise induced stress throughout pregnancy. When you train, they are training!
But, what do we see that indicates that baby better tolerates labor?? Here are some examples!
After birth, baby’s the hormone erythropoietin levels, red blood cell percentage, and acid accumulation in the blood were lower in these babies, demonstrating that they were better able to tolerate the stresses of late pregnancy and labor;
Lower occurrence of meconium at birth, indicating less stress;
Better regulation of body temperature;
Regained birth weight quicker;
Maintained appropriate blood glucose levels after birth.
Risks of Exercising During Pregnancy for your Baby??
We want to understand what the potential risks are and decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. Fortunately for Exercising During Pregnancy, the usual myths or concerns about prenatal exercise are not true. Concerns such as the risk of miscarriage, congenital malformations, prematurity, and heat stress are not increased by exercising throughout pregnancy.
However, you may want to avoid Exercising During Pregnancy that have a high fall risk, as physical trauma can be harmful to the baby. Activities such as contact sports, horseback riding, or sky diving may not be appropriate for pregnancy.
But, what if there is decreased blood flow to the uterus? Isn’t that dangerous?! Actually, its the opposite! Baby reaps the benefits from dealing with exercise induced stress. Their heart rate, bowel function, and physical activity during exercise demonstrates an improved capability to deal with these temporary reductions in uterine blood flow and oxygen delivery!
High intensity exercise may increase baby’s heart rate, but their physical activity remains the same, demonstrating that there is sufficient oxygen delivery for the baby! There is no increased occurrence of meconium during high intensity exercise, as well!
We deal with reductions in blood flow and oxygen throughout our daily life, and during unanticipated maternal stress. The improved capability to respond to stress helps the fetus be more resilient during pregnancy and labor, particularly if there are any complications. Baby is more resilient to stress!
Conclusion about Exercising During Pregnancy
Exercising During Pregnancy helps make your baby more resilient to stress during pregnancy and labor! You may find that baby better tolerates labor and adapts to life on the outside easier. There are tons of benefits for you, as well, such as shorter labor, lower risk of prenatal complications, and improved comfort and strength throughout pregnancy. If knowing that exercise benefits your baby helps motivate you to go for that walk or head to the gym, here you go!
We offer a 40-Week Prenatal Fitness Program that syncs with your week of pregnancy. Our program incorporates strength training with aerobic activity, to help build the strength and stamina during pregnancy. Our program can be started at any week of pregnancy! Our program is offered in both a one-time purchase or monthly subscription, so you can start even as late as your third trimester or ninth month of pregnancy!