Safe Pregnancy Workouts

Is it safe to workout while pregnant?

Generally speaking, exercise during your pregnancy is deemed safe and typically recommended by health care providers. Activities that maintain your physical health and well-being are important during pregnancy. Staying active helps prepare your body for labor and delivery and reduce some common aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

In some pregnancies, an existing medical condition or pregnancy-related condition may prevent you from working out. Your health care provider may not recommend exercising if you have any of the following conditions:

• Bleeding or spotting
• Low placenta
• Threatened or recurrent miscarriage
• Weak cervix

Talk with your health care provider before starting an exercise routine.

Benefits of exercising during pregnancy

Regular exercise during pregnancy benefits your overall health and well-being. According to The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, exercise helps: 

• Reduce back pain
• Ease constipation
• Decrease your risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cesarean delivery
• Promote healthy weight gain during pregnancy
• Improve your overall general fitness and strengthen your heart and blood vessels
• Lose baby weight after your baby is born

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Safe exercises during pregnancy

While there are many exercises you can perform during your pregnancy, there will be times those exercises need to be modified or removed from your routine completely. Be aware of movements that become uncomfortable as you and your baby grow through your pregnancy. Some low-intensity workouts that can be done through your entire pregnancy include:

Walking

One of the most popular exercises, walking during pregnancy is an excellent way to get physical activity and provides several health benefits. Studies have shown that low-intensity walking can lower the risk of gestational diabetes and unhealthy weight gain and reduce postpartum weight retention, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Walking may also lead to a healthy birth weight for babies.

Swimming

Swimming during pregnancy comes highly recommended as a low-impact, non-load-bearing activity. Swimming lets you raise your heart rate and get a cardiovascular workout without overheating. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, swimming is one of the safest forms of exercise during pregnancy. (It’s important to note that water skiing, diving and scuba diving do not get a thumbs-up because they place pregnant women at an increased risk of injury.)

Yoga

Modified or prenatal yoga is a gentle workout that benefits pregnant women. Yoga reduces stress, improves flexibility and encourages focused breathing. A prenatal yoga class uses modified poses that are safe for moms and babies. As your balance shifts with added weight, it's important to be mindful of the poses you can achieve safely and avoid those that require you to be on your back for long periods. If you do not have a prenatal yoga class available, be sure to work with the instructor to modify poses.

Pilates

Similar to yoga, a modified or prenatal pilates class is a great way to reduce stress, increase flexibility and practice moderate-weight-bearing exercises. Remember to avoid heated classes and any positions that require you to lie flat on your back for long periods.

Weight Training

Light to moderate weightlifting during pregnancy is a good way to strengthen your body and build muscle. While lifting weights, opt for a lighter than usual weight and increase your reps. With the release of the hormone relaxin during pregnancy, you may want to switch to a machine to limit your range of motion. Most importantly, remember to breathe while lifting weights!

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Safety tips for exercising while pregnant

It’s important to take necessary precautions to ensure both you and your baby remain safe. Following these safety tips will help you exercise confidently and avoid potential risks.

• Consult your doctor first: Always check with your health care provider before beginning or modifying an exercise routine to ensure it's safe for your pregnancy.
• Listen to your body: Pay attention to how you feel during workouts. If something causes discomfort, dizziness or shortness of breath, stop immediately.
• Avoid overheating: Exercise in a cool environment, wear breathable clothing and stay hydrated to prevent overheating, which can be harmful during pregnancy.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during and after workouts to maintain hydration levels.
• Modify exercises as needed: Your body will change throughout pregnancy, so be prepared to adjust exercises to maintain comfort and safety.
• Avoid lying on your back for long periods: As your pregnancy progresses, lying flat on your back may restrict blood flow, so modify positions accordingly.
• Use proper footwear: Wear supportive shoes to maintain balance and reduce strain on joints.

Exercises to avoid while pregnant

Some exercises and activities put you at an increased risk of injury during pregnancy. Avoid the following activities and exercises:

• Heated workout classes: These types of workouts are growing more popular, but joining a heated class can cause you to become overheated and dehydrated, which could lead to fainting.
• Contact sports: Avoid any activity that puts you at risk of being hit in the abdomen, including boxing, soccer, hockey, basketball and football.
• Any activities with a fall risk: Many individual activities have a fall risk and should be avoided during pregnancy. These activities include skiing, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, cycling or mountain biking and horseback riding.

Bottom line

Exercising during pregnancy is great for you and your baby. Keep yourself physically and mentally healthy with a doctor-approved workout plan. If you have an existing or pregnancy-related condition, then it’s OK to take it easy. Pregnancy is about listening to your body and doing your best to take care of you and baby. You can always resume workouts after your baby is born.