University of Iowa Health Science Relations and
Dan Fick, MD
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
First Published: November 2000
Last Revised: September 2003
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Sherri enjoys working out at her local fitness club, but now that she is pregnant, she wonders if she should continue the high-intensity workouts she prefers. She also wonders if she's exercising too much, and whether exercising will make labor easier.

Exercise is healthy for most expectant mothers, says Dr. Daniel Fick, associate clinical professor of family practice at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. But, he cautions, it has not been proven that exercising during pregnancy will result in an easier labors.

"Before you begin any exercise program, whether or not you're pregnant, check with your physician. Regular exercise can improve your sense of well-being, and it will help you get back into shape following pregnancy. But you shouldn't rely on exercise to make labor easier," Fick says. Exercise can, however, help your heart and breathing during the labor process, he adds.

Fick suggests that if a pregnant woman has the flu or a cold, she should refrain from exercising until she is well. "Certainly a woman with a chronic condition, such as diabetes, should discuss her exercise program with her physician, before beginning the program."

Pregnant women should not become overheated and should dress appropriately for the weather if exercising outdoors. Fick also suggests the following for women who wish to exercise while pregnant:

• Never exercise to fatigue or exhaustion. Don't begin strenuous activities during pregnancy.
• Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious meals.
• Be cautious with activities that might cause trauma to the abdomen, such as contact sports and some ball sports.
• Avoid activities--like bicycling--that require a sense of balance. "Your entire sense of balance changes during pregnancy," Fick says.
• Avoid doing exercises that entail lying on your back, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. The weight of the baby presses on blood vessels in the mother's abdomen, causing discomfort and decreases blood flow.
• If you can carry on a conversation while exercising and not become winded, you are exercising at the appropriate level, he says. "You don't want to put yourself or your baby at risk during exercise."

Following the birth of the baby, it will take time for your body to return to its previous form, he adds. "The abdominal area is made of connective tissues in addition to abdominal muscles that have been stretched by the baby. Getting your abdominal shape and strength back will take some time," he explains.

Women who nurse their babies and continue to exercise following birth may want to consider wearing a sports bra that offers good support, Fick says. During pregnancy and nursing, breast size increases and exercising can become uncomfortable without proper support.

If you have questions about exercising while pregnant, talk with your physician.