[FACT OR FAKE #102] It's Actually Okay For Women To Exercise/Work Hard During Pregnancy
Is it important to exercise while pregnant? Or should pregnant women rest more?
By Sadho Ram — 12 Apr 2015, 11:23 AM
Exercising, in general, is considered a good thing. For it not only helps us in physical manner, it's also a long-term antidepressant.
But can exercising when you're pregnant be dangerous?
First things first, being pregnant is possibly the toughest thing ever!
Add to that the feeling of being overwhelmed with conflicting information on practically everything a pregnant woman should do.
However, as long as preggers are not pushing themselves harder than they did before they were pregnant, it's actually perfectly healthy (and even recommended by doctors) for them to get regular exercise throughout the duration of their their pregnancies!
Dr Anita Green, a sports doctor at Sports Medicine Australia, says that the vast majority of preggers can safely enjoy some level of sport or physical activity throughout their pregnancy, adding that it is most important that they continue to be physically active for their own physical and mental health and the well-being of their baby.
"Most pregnant women will be healthy and have a pregnancy which is progressing normally. For them it is most important that they continue to be physically active for their own physical and mental health and the well-being of their baby," she says.
Furthermore, pregnant women who exercise have better weight control, improved mood, decreased constipation and they maintain their fitness. Exercise also helps prevent the onset of gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy) and is recommended for women who develop gestational diabetes, reports the website ABC.
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, an Obstetrics and gynaecologist at the Yale School of Medicine told BuzzFeed Life that she lets her pregnant patients ski as long as they are good at it.
"Staying limber and fit is terrific for labour and delivery," she says.
Thirty-four weeks pregnant Alysia Montano runs in the opening round of the women's 800 meter run during day 2 of the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hornet Stadium on 26 June 2014 in Sacramento, California.
Image via wordpress.comHowever, there are a few pointers that need to kept in check! Always, first talk to your trusted doctor or midwife rather than simply following any advice from the Internet.
Lifehacker's Beth Skwarecki has a list of the actual risks of exercising during pregnancy and what to do about them:
2. High body temperature can be bad for the fetus, but it's hard to reach dangerous levels from exercise, even in the heat. (High fevers are the more common cause of problems related to temperature.) Make sure you're hydrating well; this helps control body temperature.
3. Blood sugar can fluctuate, and as you're exercising you could end up with low blood sugar that makes you feel dizzy and faint. This means you may need to pay extra attention to your fueling plan, perhaps stopping mid-workout to grab a snack even if you usually don't.
4. On the bright side, exercise helps with blood sugar management in the long run, which is especially important if you might be at risk for gestational diabetes.
5. High impact or contact sports generally get a severe no-no, although the baby is extremely well protected in the abdomen (especially in early pregnancy, when the uterus is still inside of the pelvis) and the risk of abdominal injury is very low. Some women aren't comfortable bicycling or ice skating because of the risk of falling. Some even steer clear of high heels. This one is more of a judgment call that I feel the pregnant woman needs to make for herself: if you play full-contact hockey or football or roller derby, are you comfortable with the risk of taking a hard hit to the belly?
lifehacker.com