©Pregnancy bliss 2008
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Swimming and other activities during pregnancy
Swimming, cycling, walking and, jogging are excellent and considered safe to pursue during pregnancy. Golf, due to the walking involved, is also good.
Unsafe exercise in pregnancy
All of these are considered unsafe in pregnancy:
- Skiing (including water-
skiing), - Contact sports such as basketball and hockey,
- Gymnastics,
- Ice-
skating and - Scuba-
diving
The risk with these activities increases as the pregnancy advances.
Exercise types to avoid during pregnancy
- Full sit-
ups, - Hopping and skipping and
- Double-
leg raising.
Any exercise which involves prolonged lying on the back should be avoided, particularly
after the half-
The merits of stretching in pregnancy
Anybody who has attended an aerobics class will be aware of the stretching exercises
used for the build-
Fetal growth restriction and exercising
In some pregnancies, growth of the fetus may be found to be sub-
Effect of exercise on pregnancy and labour
There is no doubt that a woman who has been active goes into labor with more energy and better reserves to cope with labor.
Experiences of labor vary widely from person to person and whether they have exercised or not is only one factor among many that will influence this. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to quantify the benefits of this aspect.
Exercise during pregnancy and labor duration
There is no evidence that exercise status will make labour shorter (or longer, for that matter).
Exercise and the requirements for pain relief in labor
There is no evidence that exercising during pregnancy will help reduce need for pain relief in labor.
Exercise during pregnancy and mode of delivery
No evidence exists to suggest that exercising during pregnancy reduces possibility of requiring a caesarean section. Nor is there any evidence of any other effect on eventual mode of delivery.
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