Study: Healthy Pregnant Women Should Exercise Pregnant women
should be encouraged to engage in low to moderate levels of
exercise during their pregnancy even if they did not exercise
before, according to a new review of findings on the topic. A
exercising mother-to-be should be in good health, however, and
she should avoid high-intensity exercises. The research examined
evidence from previous studies and concluded that exercise can
strengthen and improve overall musculoskeletal and physiologic
health as well as pregnancy-related symptoms. For example, the
researchers conclude that exercise can ease back pain and other
musculoskeletal pain, lower maternal blood pressure, reduce
swelling and improve mood — one study of depressed pregnant
women found that exercise helped decrease depression, and
another study saw that exercise during pregnancy improves self-
esteem. Recommended exercises include aerobics, resistance
training and swimming. According to the authors, the data shows
that the pregnant woman’s body can