Is Physical Activity Safe For All Pregnant Women?

No. While I am a strong advocate for exercising when pregnant; not all women can participate in physical activity due to a medical condition. What every pregnant mama needs to do before starting a prenatal fitness program is to get medical clearance from their doctor.

If you are attending in-studio prenatal exercise classes please be sure to keep your instructor informed of any changes to your health. A qualified and experienced prenatal instructor will be able to advise you on what you can and cannot do.

When Is Physical Activity Not Safe For a Pregnant Woman?

There are a wide range of medical or health conditions that may prevent you from working out when pregnant. Here are just a few of those.

1. Being pregnant with twins, triplets or multiples along with other risk factors for preterm labor. Again, this will be dependent with each individual.

Most of the time you will be able to exercise but with a highly modified program. Your should avoid high-impact movements and only include recommended prenatal exercises.

2. Other reasons are preterm labor, bleeding from the vagina, or if your water breaks. Preterm labor happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Bleeding from the vagina and having your water break may be signs of preterm labor.

3. Cervical insufficiency or a cerclage. Cervical insufficiency means your cervix (small canal that connects your uterus and vagina) dilates too early during pregnancy, usually without pain or contractions. Cervical insufficiency can cause premature birth and miscarriage.

4. Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure during pregnancy. It starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy and goes away after you give birth.

5. Placenta previa after 26 weeks of pregnancy. This is when the placenta lies very low in the uterus. Placenta previa can cause heavy bleeding and other complications later in pregnancy.

6. Severe anemia or certain heart or lung conditions. Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.