Exercise during pregnancy has been found to provide a range of benefits for both you and your growing baby. From reducing your risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia to improving your mood and energy levels, regular exercise can help ease common pregnancy discomforts, such as back pain and fatigue, and even prepare your body for labor and delivery.
Three eye-opening studies unveiled at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2024 Pregnancy Meeting support the importance of staying active during pregnancy. Not only does exercise benefit mental health by reducing depression and anxiety, but it also lowers the likelihood of cesarean deliveries.
Dr. Danielle Panelli from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health emphasizes how recommendations have shifted from bed rest to physical activity during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now advises pregnant individuals to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity weekly.
In one study, Panelli and her team studied physical activity’s link to anxiety in different groups of pregnant individuals. They found that outpatients had higher step counts compared to inpatients, with lower step counts correlating with increased anxiety levels. This highlights the importance of incorporating physical activity interventions, especially for hospitalized pregnant individuals.
Another study focused on how physical activity during pregnancy affects peripartum depression. Participants maintaining an active lifestyle showed a 15% lower risk of experiencing postnatal depression symptoms compared to non-active individuals.
Surprisingly, no safety concerns were identified related to exercise during pregnancy.
Lastly, researchers in Israel discovered that being more active during pregnancy significantly reduced the rate of cesarean deliveries among participants. Those who took more daily steps had a 78% lower risk of ending up with a cesarean delivery. In addition, more active patients also experienced fewer complications like gestational diabetes and hypertension.
These findings emphasize the positive impact of staying physically active throughout pregnancy on both maternal mental health and birth outcomes–further reinforcing the importance of regular exercise for expectant mothers everywhere.
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