Should I continue to exercise while pregnant?

For traditional Chinese people, they always think that they should get more rest in order to avoid fetal bleeding. Is this really the case?

For normal people, regular exercise can not only maintain physical fitness and consume excess calories, but also improve the body's adaptability, thereby improving the quality of daily life.

And pregnant moms are no exception!

Appropriate exercise during pregnancy can reduce mommy's physical discomfort, promote blood circulation, increase appetite, prevent excessive weight gain, facilitate labor and postpartum recovery. No exercise or inappropriate exercise will have harmful effects on the mother's body. It will cause adverse effects to the baby in the belly.

In May 2015, the U.S. National Library of Medicine also published a research report on the impact of prenatal exercise on fetal growth. The study showed that prenatal exercise reduced the chance of giving birth to an overweight baby by 31%. Pregnant women gain less weight during pregnancy and the chance of having a caesarean section is also reduced.

Regular prenatal exercise:

The baby will not be overweight (more than 4 kg or more).

There is little need for a caesarean section.

Less likely to cause premature birth and low birth weight babies.

In addition to the above studies, regular exercise can also reduce many complications and discomforts as well as the following benefits:

(1) Help pregnant mothers to better understand the changes in their bodies during pregnancy.

(2) Promote muscle strength and balance, maintain good posture, prevent back pain, muscle and joint soreness...can’t waitComfortable.

(3) Improve circulation, enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle fitness, and reduce varicose veins.

(4) Reduce gastrointestinal discomfort and constipation.

(5) Reduce the symptoms of leg cramps.

(6) Strengthen the abdominal muscles and facilitate production.

(7) Postpartum recovery can be accelerated and help deal with postpartum depression.

(8) Help restore the mobility of swollen joints and reduce edema symptoms.

(9) Promote the mental health of pregnant mothers and help them cope with every stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy.

(10) Prevent gestational diabetes, especially in women with body mass index >33.

Exercise tips for pregnant mothers:

Once your pregnancy is assessed by a doctor and there is no risk of miscarriage, you can start exercising and developing exercise habits.

Moms who have no exercise habits before pregnancy can do some gentle exercises such as Pilates, yoga, etc., which can strengthen the training of the muscles around the pelvis, help with natural delivery, and cope with the heavy physical exertion of childbirth.

If you are a mom who has the habit of weight training before pregnancy, feel free to continue weight training within a reasonable and safe range!!!

Also, because pregnancy will increase the body's blood flow by 10 to 20% and put a greater load on the heart, you can also choose exercises such as brisk walking to gently enhance your cardiopulmonary function.