Staying active and flexible during and after pregnancy deter the occurrence of preeclampsia (1), severe musculoskeletal complication (2) and gestational diabetes. It also aids in the recovery from childbirth and postpartum weight maintenance.
The ACOG or American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorses moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 min on most, if not all days of the week for pregnant women. Examples of moderate-intensity exercise are brisk walking, low impact dance aerobics, and biking.
One of the study authors, in Petersen et al, Terry Leet, Ph.D. said, that pregnant women should exercise unless advised otherwise by their physician because of medical or obstetric complications observed during their pregnancy. Women beginning an exercise program during pregnancy should perform moderate, non-weight-bearing activities, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling. She said that women who exercised prior to their pregnancy should continue their activities, except for activities that might possibly cause abdominal distress such as contact sports and scuba diving.
A study reported by Borodulin et al. (2008) included 1,482 women, of which 71.6% were white, 17.3% African American and 11.1% other. Most of the women self-reported some physical activity during the second (96.5%) and third (93.9%) trimester. Physical activity consisted of household indoor-related activities, recreational activities and care-related responsibilities. Volume and level of exercise intensity decreased between the second and third trimester.
Pregnant women who meet the moderate to vigorous physical activity recommendations of the ACOG were more likely to be more educated, non-Hispanic white, younger, not married, of higher incomes, and non-smokers. Those coming from a lower socioeconomic status and smoked were less likely to meet the physical activity recommendations during pregnancy. However, majority of the women did not reach the activity recommendations set by the ACOG.
Exercise seems to be losing its appeal among the general population. Non-pregnant women who exercised at least three times a week declined to 14% in 2000 from 17% in 1996. Pregnant women who exercised at least three times a week declined from 9% in 1994 to 6% in 2000. Also, women who did not exercise when they were not pregnant were less likely to start exercising regularly when they got pregnant.
Dr. Raul Artal of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology said that not enough of his fellow obstetricians encourage their healthy patients to exercise during pregnancy. He said that the hesitance of obstetricians to recommend exercise to pregnant women is rooted in old-fashioned notions of pregnancy as a time of confinement.
Fitness professionals, physicians and personal trainers should educate pregnant students and clients of the benefits of remaining physically activity during pregnancy. They should point out to pregnant patients that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has embraced the Center for Disease Control exercise guidelines. This guidelines states that every pregnant woman with uncomplicated pregnancies and who does not have a medical history or a history of obstetric complications should get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day for most days of the week.
References:
Borodulin, K.M., Evenson, K.R., Wen, F., Herring, A.H., and Benson, A.M. (2008). Physical activity patterns during pregnancy. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 40(11), 1901-1908.
Petersen et al, Correlate of Physical Activity among Pregnant Women in the United States, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise; Nov. 2005; p.1748-1753.
Definition of terms:
1) Preeclampsia – the abnormal state of pregnancy identified by hypertension and fluid retention
2) Musculoskeletal complications – discomfort in the back, pelvis and tenderness of the lower extremities.
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