Benefits of Exercise
Becoming active and exercising at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week can benefit your health in the following ways:

• Helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling
• May help prevent or treat gestational diabetes
• Increases your energy
• Improves your mood
• Improves your posture
• Promotes muscle tone, strength and endurance
• Helps you sleep better

Joints
The hormones produced during pregnancy cause the ligaments that support your joints to become relaxed.

Balance
Remember that during pregnancy you are carrying extra pounds — as much as 25 to 40 pounds at the end of pregnancy. The extra weight in the front of your body shifts your center of gravity and places stress on joints and muscles, especially those in the pelvis and lower back.

Heart Rate
The extra weight you are carrying will make your body work harder than before you were pregnant. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen and blood to the muscles being worked and away from other parts of your body. So, it's important not to overdo it.

Getting Started
Before beginning your exercise program, talk with your doctor to make sure you do not have any obstetric or health condition that would limit your activity.

Choosing Safe Exercises
Most forms of exercise are safe during pregnancy. However, some types of exercise involve positions and movements that may be uncomfortable, tiring or harmful for pregnant women. For instance, after the first trimester of pregnancy, women should not do exercises that require them to lie flat on their backs.

Certain sports are safe during pregnancy, even for beginners:

• Walking is a good exercise for anyone.
• Swimming is great for your body.
• Cycling provides a good aerobic workout.
• Aerobics is a good way to keep your heart and lungs strong.

• Running
• Racquet sports
• Strength training

• Downhill snow skiing
• Contact sports
• Scuba diving

If it has been some time since you've exercised, it is a good idea to start slowly. Begin with as little as five minutes of exercise a day and add five minutes each week until you can stay active for 30 minutes a day.

Always begin each exercise session with a warm-up period for five to 10 minutes.

Things to Watch
The changes your body is going through can make certain positions and activities risky for you and your baby. While exercising, try to avoid activities that call for jumping, jarring motions, or quick changes in direction that may strain your joints and cause injury.

While you exercise, pay attention to your body. Do not exercise to the point that you are exhausted.

After the Baby's Born
Having a baby and taking care of a newborn is hard work. It will take a while to regain your strength after the strain of pregnancy and childbirth. Taking care of yourself physically and allowing your body time to recover is important. If you had a cesarean delivery, difficult childbirth or complications, your recovery time may be longer. Check with your doctor before starting or resuming an exercise program.

Finally ...
Exercise during pregnancy can help prepare you for labor and childbirth. Exercising afterward can help get you back in shape. Before you begin an exercise program, talk to your doctor. Follow this guide to help maintain a safe and healthy exercise program during pregnancy.

This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care, have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.