You’ve always been a very active person. You love running, swimming, going to the gym, and you practise yoga every morning without fail. However, now that you’re pregnant, you’re wondering how you should be changing your activity levels, or whether exercising during your pregnancy is a good idea at all.

On the surface, exercise might seem like a risky activity if you’re pregnant. However, exercise is actually really good for you during pregnancy, and it’s completely safe. So, if you weren’t aware of how exercise can help you during pregnancy, or what the best exercise for pregnancy is, then we’re here to help!

First up, let’s explore how exercise can help you through pregnancy.

How can exercise help me during pregnancy?

It helps you maintain a healthy weight.

It helps you get a better night’s sleep.

It helps you feel better about the changes that are happening to your body.

It keeps pregnancy niggles at bay. For example, backache, pelvic girdle pain, constipation, and fatigue.

It helps to reduce or prevent depression and improve your mood.

It helps to prepare your body and mind for the demands of labour and birth.

It helps you recover after your baby is born.

It helps to prevent complications such as gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia.

Now that we’ve talked about the ways in which exercise can help you during your pregnancy, let’s outline the types of exercise that are most suitable.

What is the best type of exercise during pregnancy?

The best types of exercise during pregnancy should:

Get your heart pumping.

Manage weight gain by burning calories.

Prepare your muscles for labour and birth.

Won’t cause you to push your body too hard.

Examples of safe types of exercise include:

Swimming.

Brisk walking.

Aquanatal classes.

Cycling.

Trying out activities such as pilates or pregnancy yoga can also be a good option. However, it’s important you find a registered, qualified teacher who is experienced in teaching pregnant women.

Having explored some examples of what the best exercise for pregnancy should look like, it’s time to finally look at some reasons why you might not want to exercise during this time.

Are there any reasons why I shouldn’t exercise?

Although exercise during pregnancy is generally safe, there are some exceptions. Talk to your doctor before exercising if:

You are a heavy smoker.

You have a heart or lung problem, or chronic bronchitis.

You have asthma.

You have poorly controlled diabetes.

You have early placenta praevia (a condition whereby the placenta partially or wholly blocks the neck of the uterus, in turn potentially interfering with the delivery of a baby.)

You were underweight before you became pregnant, with a BMI of 12 or lower.

You have high blood pressure that isn’t being controlled with medication.

You have pre-eclampsia (a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour).

Your baby has been small for dates during this pregnancy.

You have a history of miscarriage.

You have very low iron levels in your blood.

Should I be exercising during pregnancy?

Stay active in every trimesters for your physical and mental wellbeing, says Unii.