Hop, Skip And A Bump

What's Off-limits? We Take You Through the Dos and Don'ts of Pregnancy Exercise 

- Radhika Holmstrom

Once upon a time, pregnant women were told to take it easy. Today, it can seem like the opposite; with reminders that you’re “pregnant, not ill”, women are encouraged to keep going as normal.

The reality is that, especially in the first few weeks, even those who usually take a vigorous workout in their stride can’t manage anything more demanding than walking short distances.

However, it’s great to get off the sofa once your energy levels start rising again, whether or not you’ve been in the habit before. Pretty well every health organisation stresses the role that exercise plays in fending off ailments from heart disease to high blood pressure; and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is no exception. As long as you’re not exhausted or have a condition that rules it out, exercise will help keep you in good physical shape, help with an active labour and put you in the best position to cope afterwards. These 40 weeks put a lot of strain on your pelvic floor and stomach muscles, so exercise is one of your best bets for getting back into your normal clothes soon after the birth of your baby.