Are you unsure about what level of Or perhaps you’re wondering how on earth anyone manages to even get off the couch while pregnant, let alone continue their fitness routines.
Then this article is for you.
Mounting scientific evidence shows us that exercising during pregnancy has important health benefits for both mother and baby. The Journal of American Medicine Association and BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth both report that physical exercise during pregnancy helps reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, pre- eclampsia and excessive pregnancy weight gain for a mother.
It has also been shown to have an impact on improving birth outcomes, including labour duration, preterm delivery and need for operative delivery, and has been associated with reduced occurrence of lower back pain and urinary incontinence. According to the journal Kinesiology Review, exercise has also been shown to provide substantial psychological benefits including reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and improved body image and self-esteem.
Yet despite the research clearly showing how important regular exercise is for pregnant women, many mums-to-be still receive conflicting advice from health professionals about whether or not to exercise and what intensity of exercise they should do.
This, combined with other pregnancy-related challenges, leads to many women simply not exercising. An Australian study reported only 32% of women were actually exercising enough to get the health benefits for themselves and their baby.
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