Exercise offers many benefits during pregnancy

Pregnant women should do low to moderate levels of exercise, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, a new study indicates.

According to the research, exercise strengthens and improves overall physical and mental health and can reduce some pregnancy related symptoms.

Exercise such as low-impact aerobics and swimming eases back pain; lowers blood pressure; reduces swelling; and can improve post-partum mood, including sadness.

Furthermore, the US researchers found that women who started exercising during pregnancy were more likely to continue with a lifelong exercise programme.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

For more information on exercising during pregnancy, speak to your GP. You can also visit irishhealth.com’s pregnancy clinic: http://www.mum.ie

[Posted: Tue 04/08/2009]