We all know the benefits of exercise at any stage of our life. If we move more, we feel better and with the right diet too, we can look better.
It’s no different in pregnancy. Our body is subjected to massive changes, both physically and mentally, and exercise can help us to adapt better. Not only will it help to manage weight gain, an inevitable part of pregnancy, but we’ll have the energy to fight back at those raging hormones, which can send some of us a little loopy – again hard to avoid during those nine wonderful months!
What’s more, studies have found that following the right programme of exercise during pregnancy will lead to a happier state of mind, more (or better) sleep, and even an easier labour. Sign me up now!
Proper precautions
Exercise during pregnancy is not dangerous if you take the proper precautions but there are some sports you should avoid. We asked our expert gynaecologist, Dr Peter Chew to explain.
“The dangers that may arise are the types of exercise that are likely to result in injuries to the mother and the baby, says Dr Chew, who runs the Peter Chew Clinic For Women at Gleneagles Medical Centre.
“For example, contact sports such as football, basketball or kick boxing carry a high risk of getting knocked in the stomach,” he says. “This can cause placental separation resulting in vaginal bleeding and occasional foetal death. Activities that are prone to fall, such as horse riding or cycling outdoor, should also be avoided for similar reasons.”
