Pregnancy Exercise is Important
Keeping physically healthy and active during pregnancy provides many health benefits to women, including psychological betterment, improved aerobic fitness and a lower risk of overweight gain. For most pregnant women, daily pregnancy execise benefits the mother as well as the unborn child. Pregnant women will feel changes when they stay active during pregnancy. Women attain numerous benefits from physical activity during pregnancy-
- Feel good as your body is changing.
- Promote the tone, flexibility and strength of the muscle
- Promote circulation of blood and probably hopefully prevent varicose veins.
- Improve your balance and coordination, which is very necessary when your centre of gravity changes.
- Sleep better.
- Manage anxiety and stress.
- Prepare the body for childbirth and delivery.
Optimal Exercise During Pregnancy
The 2018 American Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies engage in at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately vigorous aerobic activity. Pregnant women who regularly participate in vigorous-intensity aerobic exercises or high levels of physical activity should consult their healthcare provider regarding their activity levels during pregnancy.
Health Benefits and Considerations
Incorporating moderate-intensity pregnancy exercise is advisable, even for those who weren’t active before becoming pregnant. Engaging in execise during pregnancy offers several health benefits, such as reducing the risk of excessive gestational weight gain and related conditions like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, varicose veins, and deep vein thrombosis. Some studies suggest that physical activity during pregnancy is linked to a lower incidence of pregnancy complications. However, intense leisure activities may lead to reduced birth weight.
Psychological advantages of physical activity during pregnancy encompass decreased fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression, along with an overall improvement in well-being. From a public health perspective, women who stay active during pregnancy are more likely to continue their physical activity post-pregnancy.
Physiological responses to exercise are all greater during pregnancy than during prepregnancy, such as changes in heart rate, cardiac output, breathing, and energy expenditure, and can become more noticeable as pregnancy progresses. Change in hormones increase the joint laxity that can result in an increased risk of injury to a woman . Physical activity is required to reduce the risk of injury to both the mother and the infant. The World Health Organization ‘s Recommendation on Physical Activity suggests that adults aged 18 to 64 years should participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity over a week (at least 10 minutes) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise or an equal combination of two. The guideline notes that pregnant women should need special care and should seek medical advice before considering any guidelines.
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