30 minutes a day
At least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. That’s the official exercise
prescription for all Americans, including pregnant women. Current evidence shows little risk and big benefits of physical
activity during normal pregnancy. Exercise may decrease complications (hypertension,
gestational diabetes, preeclampsia) limit weight gain, improve mental state,
increase fitness, and enhance weight loss postpartum. Fetal benefits may include improved stress tolerance.
Since 2002 ACOG* recommends pregnant women follow the
physical activity guidelines for adults developed by the American College of
Sports Medicine with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . This is in alignment with the most
recently published federal guideline, the 2008 US Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans. The Guidelines’ section on physical activity during pregnancy
and the postpartum period encourages pregnant women to get as much physical
activity as other adults, at least 150 minutes per week, or 30 minutes most
days. What’s moderate or vigorous exercise? Moderate
exercise noticeably increases your heart rate and breathing rate. You can talk,
but you can’t sing. Moderate activity includes brisk walking, swimming, biking.
Vigorous exercise makes you sweat
and breathe heavily. It takes your heart rate up near maximum. You can talk
only in short phrases. Vigorous activity includes running, swimming laps,
biking more than 10 mph. Women who regularly engage in vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity or high amounts of activity can continue their activity
provided that their condition remains unchanged and they talk to their health
care provider about their activity level throughout their pregnancy.
Beware outdated cautions. Many (more than
half in some studies) of physicians still warn women to keep their heart rate
below 140 while pregnant, or to avoid vigorous exercise. In one study 35% of
obstetricians recommended against starting any exercise in the first trimester.
This misinformation is based on 1985
ACOG guidelines made in the absence of evidence and now superseded by strong
urging to get moving.
Other evidence indicates one
third to one half of physician prenatal care providers offer no advice on
exercise during pregnancy. Those who do discuss physical activity report
spending a total of 5 to10 minutes on the topic. Lack of information, or
misinformation, may explain in part why only 57% of pregnant women in the U.S.
reported they got any moderate to
vigorous leisure activity and only 54% did any moderate household activity. Despite
beliefs in the health benefits of exercise for both themselves and their
babies, most women are not engaging in exercise at the recommended levels.
Women who demonstrated good understanding of exercise during pregnancy were no
more likely to exercise than their less informed counterparts. Beginnings Pregnancy Guide recommends a combination of
aerobic, conditioning and stretching exercise. The Exercise Guide for Moms-to-be (p 27) adheres to current
national guidelines with one change. It now says: Exercise 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. More is better. The 2011 revision will say: Exercise 30
minutes at least 5 times a week. More is better. References
Bauer PW, Broman
CL, & Pivarnik JM. (2010) Exercise and Pregnancy Knowledge Among Healthcare
Providers. Journal of Women’s Health 19
(2): p335-341.
Everson KR,
Pompeii LA. (2010) Obstetrician Practice Patterns and Recommendations for
Physical Activity During Pregnancy. Journal of Women’s Health 19 (9):
1733-1740. Everson,
KR, Bradley C B. (2010). Beliefs about Exercise and Physical Activity Among
Pregnant Women . Patient Education and
Counseling 79: 124-129.
US Dept of
Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans. Available online
at www.health.gov/paguidelines *ACOG American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists. ACOG Educational
Pamphlet AP119 – Exercise During Pregnancy. Available online at http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp119.cfm |
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CategoriesBeginnings GuidesBreastfeeding Health Education Health Literacy Parenting Education Prenatal Education |
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