ISSA Unit 28 EXERCISE AND PREGNANCY

EXERCISE AND PREGNANCY: Sensible exercise can be a safe and productive undertaking for both a pregnant woman and her fetus. Unfortunately, not a single medical school in the entire United States offers a required course in prenatal exercise physiology for its graduates. Therefore, relatively few obstetricians have a working knowledge of what constitutes sound exercise advice. As a result, misinformation and misunderstanding abound regarding whether pregnant women should exercise during their pregnancies and, if they should, what kinds of exercise prescriptions and exercise modalities are appropriate for them. Fortunately, a growing body of evidence exists to support the belief that a pregnant woman can benefit in numerous ways from sound exercise. Exercise can reduce the severity and frequency of back pain, enhance prenatal weight management efforts, improve coping mechanisms, and reduce levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also improve digestion and reduce constipation, enhance levels of energy to facilitate the ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs), and reduce postpartum belly. The key to achieving the aforementioned benefits of exercising during pregnancy is to ensure that no contraindications exist for the pregnant woman and that her exercise regimen is medically sound. Simply stated, an exercise program must not — under any circumstances — subject either the expectant mother or her fetus to undue risk of injury or harm. Adhering to a few basic guidelines will help assure the pregnant woman's safety during her exercise regimen.

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