Benefits of Physical Activity

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Please check with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program.

When you are pregnant, you may not be feeling your best. Exercise may help provide some relief. For healthy women with a normal pregnancy, exercising regularly - at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week - can be beneficial for mother and baby.

Group exercise
Mother and daughter

Benefits include:

  • Reduces excessive weight gain during pregnancy
  • Helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling
  • May help in the prevention or treatment of gestational diabetes
  • Reduces pre-eclampsia
  • Improves your energy
  • Reduces mood disorders
  • Improves your posture
  • Reduces delivery complications
  • Reduces negative body image
  • Promotes muscle tone, strength and endurance
  • Helps you sleep better
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References

1.Dempsey JC, Butler CL, Williams MA. No need for pregnant pause: physical activity may reduce the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews 2005;33(3):141-9.

2.Sorensen TK, Williams MA, Lee I, Dashow EE, Thompson ML, Luthy DA. Recreational physical activity during pregnancy and risk of preeclampsia. Hypertension 2003; 41:1273-280.

3.Misra DP, Strobino DM, Stashinko EE, Nagey DA, Nanda J. Effects of physical activity on preterm birth. Am J Epidemiol1 998;147:628‐35.