3 Exercise Myths during Pregnancy

There are several myths surrounding pregnant women and workouts. This is where The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) guidelines is able to help to shed light on several pregnancy myths.

Here, are some of the Myths of Working out while Pregnant:

1. You shouldn’t workout while pregnant if you hadn’t been in a workout program before you got pregnant.

FACT: According to The 1994 ACOG Guidelines for exercise during pregnancy, pregnant women can engage in exercise. The guideline stated must perform at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, or as many days they can exercise. This is like the same recommendation for non-pregnant women.

2. Keep your heart rate under 140 bpm.

FACT: Consult your personal physician, unless she/he advises against this and assuming he/she is aware of the latest 2002 ACOG Guidelines, this is not a recommendation on the current guidelines. This was part of an old recommendation from the 1985 guidelines. In 1994, the recommendation got updated to say that people are individuals with varying heart rates. Patients should need to take the “talk test” in order to determine the intensity of their exercise. If you can speak while exercising then you are doing moderate exercises.

3. You shouldn’t lie on your back subsequent to the first trimester of pregnancy.

FACT: Pregnant women should avoid the supine (lying face up on your back) as much as possible, but it do not mean that you should never do it. Some women aren’t comfortable in this position. As a rule of the thumb, if the mother is comfortable, the baby is comfortable.

You may workout while lying face on your back, but it should be in moderation. 1-2 minutes are enough then roll to the other side and perform a series of exercises there.