Question

Can I exercise during pregnancy?

Answer

Exercising throughout your pregnancy is a good idea. It can help keep your weight under control, give you more strength for labour and make it easier to recover after the birth.

If you are used to exercising and your pregnancy is problem free, there is no reason not to continue as long as you feel comfortable. It is best to avoid sports such as horse riding, squash and aerobics because of the risk of injury, and also to steer clear of exercises that pull on your abdominal muscles, like sit-ups. If you have any questions about the type of exercise you can do, check with you GP or midwife.

If you are not used to regular exercise, now is not the time to start a strenuous regime. Gentle workouts like walking, swimming and yoga will help keep you fit without overdoing it, and are suitable at all stages of pregnancy. But check with your GP or midwife before you start.

Whatever exercise you do, stop immediately if you feel overheated, sick, and faint or have any pain. If you are in a class, always make sure that your instructor knows you are pregnant.

And if you do only one thing, make it pelvic floor exercises. Doing them regularly can help to prevent urinary incontinence after the birth. Ask for your midwife who will be able to give you more information and aim to do at least one set of 10 slow squeezes every day.

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