When to Stop Exercise during Pregnancy

The advice during pregnancy that women get is that exercise is important but not the kind which strains the body too much. She is required to gradually bring down the exertion as she moves from the first trimester to the second and third. Pregnant women are advised certain precautions which if followed allows them to exercise throughout their term without complications. During pregnancy, women should be conscious of certain symptoms as indicators of stopping the exercises as they can result in damage to their body and the growing baby.

At times doctors forbid the expecting mothers from taking any sort of exercise as the health of baby and mother is at risk. Some symptoms that indicate that exercise during pregnancy should be avoided are –

• vaginal bleeding or leaking of fluid from the vagina
• headache
• weakness of the muscles
• swelling in the calf or pain
• dizziness accompanied by feelings of fainting
• contractions or preterm labour
• back or pelvic pain
• short irregular breaths
• foetal movement reduced
• rapid heartbeats even when resting

Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms when exercising during pregnancy. He would recommend giving up some sort of exercises or reducing the duration or intensity of certain activities. Some sort of exercises may not be problematic, such as those that help to maintain or enhance the strength of arms and the back.

If you are an aerobic enthusiast or like to perform other vigorous exercises, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) rules out such exercises for pregnant women when they:-

• have a heart condition
• suffer from lung disease
• have cervical insufficiency or cerclage
• are going to have twins, triplets and likewise
• can have a preterm labour for any reason
• show unending bleeding during second or third trimester
• suffer from placenta previa
• have ruptured membranes
• chronic high-blood pressure or preeclampsia (high BP caused by pregnancy)
• have severe anaemia

Exercising during pregnancy is too important to be ignored but you do need to constantly monitor yourself and be aware of any signs of complications. Not only is your body well toned and healthy, but it also increases the blood flow, prevent you from getting fatigued and prepare it for the exertion that would be needed during labour. It is just that under certain circumstances, the exercises during pregnancy do more harm than good.

Read more articles on Pregnancy Exercises.

For more related articles, Download OnlymyHealth App.