Stay Fit and Active for an Easier Delivery!
Did you know? Regular physical activity while you’re pregnant might help you have a shorter labour and an easier birth.
Studies have shown that pregnant women with higher activity levels are more likely to have a “natural” birth without medical intervention. Being active can prevent you from gaining too much weight during pregnancy, which can help you have a child with a healthy birth weight.
- Active before pregnancy? Carry on with your usual exercise regime (after checking with your healthcare provider).
- If you weren’t active before you conceived, talk to your healthcare provider about starting gently with a goal. For instance, asking them about 30 minutes of low-impact activity five days a week. Walking counts, so consider getting off the bus a couple of stops early or swap short drives for walks.
- Continue to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to provide your child with the nutrition he needs. This can help you to gain the right amount of weight while you’re pregnant.
Sources
Jiang H, Qian X, Lynn H, Fan Y, Jiang H, He F, He G. Can physical activity reduce excessive gestational weight gain? Findings from a Chinese urban pregnant women cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2012; 9:12. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-12.
Morgan KL, Rahman MA, Hill RA et al. Physical activity and excess weight gain in pregnancy have independent and unique effects on delivery and prenatal outcomes. PLoS One 2014; 9(4):e94532. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094532
Stuebe A, Oken E, Gillman MW. Associations of diet and physical activity during pregnancy with risk for excessive gestational weight gain. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 201(1):58.e1-8.doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.02.025
Last revised: August, 2016
Related articles
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 26 - 40
You’re almost there! This is the part where you’re really getting in the mood for motherhood.
5 mins to read
15-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Though your little darling is planted deep inside you, this is the week where everything gets set up for his sense of smell. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
31-Week pregnant: Development and diet
As D-Day fast approaches, your little one will soon be moving into position for birth. How clever! But you already knew that. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
10-Week pregnant: Development and diet
You are already at week 10 of your pregnancy. Still another 29 weeks to go before you get to meet your little love. Learn more about what’s going on this week.
3 mins to read
26-Week pregnant: Development and diet
A little ta-da moment for the final week of your second trimester – your darling-in-the-womb will open her eyes for the first time around now! Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
Questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment
Your very first prenatal appointment is here — you must be excited! With so much going on, it helps to have a list of pregnancy questions on hand to ask your healthcare provider.
2 mins to read
3-Week pregnant: Development and diet
You’re at the very beginning of the journey. You can’t see anything yet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a whole lot going on.
3 mins to read
21-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Though the foetus now weighs around half a kilo, your little darling still has plenty of room in your belly. And likes to use it when not asleep! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
37-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your little one tends to keep his head down, arms crossed, and legs folded up on his chest as there’s not much room to move around. He’ll be very glad to get out and stretch!
3 mins to read
Why 30 minutes Daily Impacts a Lifetime?
You’re pregnant so you should rest and avoid exercises, right? Wrong! The common notion that exercise during pregnancy might harm your child has been discredited.
3 mins to read
Pregnancy concerns and diet solutions
Pregnancy is exciting, exhilarating and totally different for every woman.
5 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 1 – 12
Pregnancy is a joyous (sometimes tiring) journey of your body’s development for your newborn to enter the world. At times you’ll be excited, at other times you’ll be tired.
3 mins to read
16-Week pregnant: Development and Diet
If you could see inside yourself and watch your growing child finally fidgeting with his limbs, you might soon see him sucking his thumb in your tummy! Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
32-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your little darling is still developing as you head into the final lap, but it’s mostly perfecting and polishing from here on out. He or she is getting ready to meet you!
2 mins to read
Is it Time? Learn About the 6 Signs of Labour
Giving birth is a difficult, painful experience that marks the beginning of a new happy, exciting adventure, even more so for a mom who’s experiencing it for the first time.
3 mins to read
11-Week pregnant: Development and diet
If you could look inside, you’d see thin little hairs developing on your little love’s eyebrows and above her lip. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
27-Week Pregnant: Development and Diet
Your little sweetheart still has some growing to do but as of today, he’s over 30 cm long, big enough lying down to fit on your forearm between your hand and your elbow.
3 mins to read
Questions to ask at your 12-week scan
Finally, your 12-week scan is here! This pregnancy scan is an important one. It can also be very emotional, so it helps to have a list of questions pre-prepared.
1 min to read
6-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your child’s growth is in overdrive right about now. So many exciting developments on such a tiny little being! Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
Related tools
Ovulation calendar
Determine when you are likely to ovulate can improve your chances of conceiving.
Pregnancy week
Find out what changes you can expect in your body, your emotions, your life and your little one.
