• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Exercise Risks During Pregnancy

December 10, 2010 by ds_48763 Leave a Comment

Exercise can be a great benefit to you when you are pregnant. Exercise improves your circulation, which helps common pregnancy problems, such as constipation, hemorrhoids and swelling. Exercise gives you more energy, helps you sleep better, puts you in a better mood, prepares you for the delivery and helps you to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight sooner. But, exercise during pregnancy comes with certain risks, so understand what those are before you start your exercise program.

Check With Doctor

Women who have a high-risk pregnancy or who are at-risk for going into labor pre-term must check with their doctor before starting an exercise program. You don’t want to cause any additional problems for the baby. You may be able to do some exercise, but you should have your doctor monitor you.

Exercise in Moderation

When you exercise, don’t overdo it. You want to exercise at a moderate level, not at a hardcore pace. A good rule of thumb to determine whether you are exercising too strenuously is whether you can carry on a conversation while you exercise. Otherwise, you can restrict the oxygen to your baby. When you exercise too strenuously, your oxygen is going toward your muscles, lungs and heart and away from your uterus.

Exercise to Avoid

Stay away from sports that could cause you to fall down, such as downhill skiing and horseback riding. Avoid contact sports, like basketball and soccer, to avoid being hit in the abdomen and jarred around. Avoid laying down flat on your back when you exercise after your first trimester because that position can decrease the blood flow to your baby.

Your Body Temperature

Be careful not to become overheated. For example, practicing yoga is good when you are pregnant, but hot yoga in a 90 F room is not. You shouldn’t exercise in extremely hot weather. You need to keep your body temperature below 101 F. You could cause problems or even birth defects if you get overheated. Drink plenty of water when you exercise to help keep your body temperature down and to avoid dehydration.

Warning Signs

If, at any time during your exercise, you feel pain, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath or heart palpitations, stop immediately. Watch for blurred vision when you exercise because that is a sign of dehydration. If that happens, your blood pressure goes up and your baby might not get enough blood. Sharp, recurring pain in your abdomen could mean you’ve gone into labor. Call your doctor who can hook you up to a fetal monitor.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_48763

Laura Agadoni has been writing professionally since 1983. Her feature stories on area businesses, human interest, and health and fitness appear in her local newspaper. She has also written and edited for a grassroots outreach effort and has been published in "Clean Eating" magazine and in "Dimensions" magazine, a CUNA Mutual publication. Agadoni has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from California State University-Fullerton.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

spot a child molester

The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Do you think you would be able to tell if a sexual predator … [Read More...] about The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Soothe Red and Irritated Skin After a Brazilian Wax

How to Soothe Red and Irritated Skin After a Brazilian Wax

Symptoms of Pregnancy If HCG Injection Is Taken

abdominal pain on the left side in pregnancy

Abdominal Pain on the Left Side in Pregnancy

Remove the Lens From Plastic Frames

How to Remove the Lens From Plastic Frames

I Bought Smoked Pork Chops & Don't Know How to Cook Them

I Bought Smoked Pork Chops & Don’t Know How to Cook Them

Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes

The Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes on Children

Signs of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy & Signs of Gestational Diabetes

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.