The general rule of thumb for prenatal exercise is that if you were doing it before you were pregnant, you can keep doing it during pregnancy.
There are some precautions to take and some exceptions.
Your joints become lax when you’re pregnant, which puts you at a greater risk of falling. Avoid activities like soccer or tennis that require quick changes of direction. During the first trimester you want to be careful not to over-heat, so plan to take it easier and avoid activities like hot yoga. It’s best to avoid contact sports like basketball and football that can cause trauma to your belly, and sports with a high risk of falling like skiing or horse-back riding.
Most normal pregnancies will greatly benefit from 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 times a week. But always have your doctor’s ok first.
Focus on workouts that will be good for your pregnancy, like:
- swimming,
- yoga
- low-impact cardio and
- modified weight training
If you’re looking for guidance or some tips on how to maintain your fitness during your pregnancy, contact me for a free session.