Safe and unsafe recreational exercises in pregnancy
Safe and unsafe recreational exercises in pregnancy
Examples of safe and unsafe physical activities during pregnancy*
The following activities are safe to initiate or continue*:
Walking
Swimming
Stationary cycling
Low-impact aerobics
Yoga, modified¶
Pilates, modified
Running or joggingΔ
Racquet sportsΔ◊
Strength trainingΔ
Pelvic floor muscle training (Kegel)
The following activities should be avoided:
Contact sports (eg, ice hockey, boxing, soccer, and basketball)
Activities with a high risk of falling or otherwise hitting the abdomen against a hard surface (eg, downhill snow skiing, water skiing, surfing, off-road cycling, gymnastics, and horseback riding)
Scuba diving
Sky diving
"Hot yoga" or "hot pilates"
* In women with uncomplicated pregnancies in consultation with an obstetric care provider. ¶ Yoga positions that result in decreased venous return and hypotension should be avoided as much as possible. Δ In consultation with an obstetric care provider, running or jogging, racquet sports, and strength training may be safe for pregnant women who participated in these activities regularly before pregnancy. Moderate intensity is optimal (eg, ≤80% age predicted maximum heart rate, rate of perceived exertion 13 or 14 on the Borg scale, or ability to converse while exercising). High intensity strenuous exercise should be avoided (>90% age predicted maximum heart rate). ◊ Racquet sports wherein a pregnant woman's changing balance may affect rapid movements and increase the risk of falling should be avoided as much as possible.