Can I Keep Training Now That I Am Pregnant

Over the years there has been some controversy regarding exercise during pregnancy. Below are some of the theories that have been   raised as to why exercise may result in physiologic and metabolic changes in the foetus, and the research that disputes these theories.   

Increased Temperature - In non-pregnant exercising women, core body temperature may be raised to ~39.2°C. Originally, this   rise in temperature was thought to be responsible for neural tube defects e.g spina bifida. Research has shown that this increase in   core temperature is not likely to be sufficient to cause defects (protein is said to denature at 40°C)..

Uterine Blood Flow - a reduction in blood flow occurs during exercise. The concern with this phenomenon was that there may be   a reduction in the uterine or umbilical artery blood flow which would result in a decrease in oxygen and nutrients to the foetus. This was   disputed by further research that found no changes in either the uterine or umbilical blood flow (as the mother’s blood volume is   increased during pregnancy).

Foetal Distress During Exercise - Distress is monitored using foetal heart rate tracings. Some studies maintain that foetal   tachycardia (increased heart rate) and others claim that bradycardia (decreased heart rate) results post maternal exercise. Tachycardia   may be due to the foetus’ response to the increased catecholamine levels in the exercising mother rather than a stress response. Bradycardia (resolving within ~2 mins) is not thought to cause foetal hypoxia.

Foetal Nutrient Supply - So long as the pregnant woman has adequate nutritional intake, there should not be any compromise   to the foetus. There was some concern as to the reduced glucose available to the foetus during and post exercise.

Foetal Size Postpartum - Infants born of exercising women who ate a high carbohydrate diet (elevating 24 hour blood glucose   levels) are large at birth. There is evidence to suggest that that the babies of women doing a high volume of exercise in mid and late pregnancy (post 20th week) were significantly lighter and thinner (8.3% fat vs 12.1% fat) than the offspring of women who reduced their exercise volume.

Preterm Labour - It was found that Leisure-time exercise, in the first and second trimesters, had a protective effect on preterm   delivery.

N.B Always check with your G.P and Physio prior to commencing exercise during pregnancy.
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