Short Answer – YES. (If your doctor gives you the okay).

Being physically active during pregnancy can help improve your mood and prepare you for an easier labor and childbirth. It’s pretty much a win-win all the way around.  

Just be sure to check in with your healthcare provider before starting, changing, or continuing a work-out plan to ensure you are cleared for activity. There are some conditions where exercise is not advised, such as placenta previa, pre eclampsia, ruptured membranes, multiple pregnancy, and bleeding (to name a few).  So always talk to the doc to see what you can, and can’t do, based on your individual situation.

A Few Things To Keep In Mind:

  • Don’t lie flat on your back.  After the first trimester, avoid exercising while lying flat on your back.The weight of your uterus puts pressure on a major vein called the vena cava, which can reduce blood flow to your heart and may diminish blood flow to your brain and uterus. This can make you dizzy, short of breath, or nauseated.
  • You may be more prone to certain injuries.  Your body produces a hormone called relaxin which makes your joints more flexible (to help with labor). This may, however, make you more prone to injury doing actions that cause deep muscle or joint movements such as, squats, heavy lunges, etc., so be cautious.
  • If it feels “odd”, don’t do it.  Your body is going through a lot of changes. Listen to what it is telling you. If something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t worth the risk.
  • Your balance will be out of whack.  Exercises involving balance, like biking, skiing, or soccer can be risky since your center of gravity is off. Try to stay away from things that put you in an unstable position. You can try incorporating an exercise stability ball into your routine to help keep you balanced.
  • Stop at any sign of trouble.  If you experience severe nausea, dizziness, pain, spotting, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, etc. stop whatever it is you are doing and talk to your doctor.  You may not need to stop exercising altogether, but some modifications to your routine may need to be made.

There are a lot of benefits to exercising when pregnant, so don’t stop moving! Research shows that even short intervals of exercise can be effective. In fact, many moms have raved about this 10 Minute Solution. Be sure to talk to your doctor to determine what type of exercise plan is best for you.