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Exercise Guidelines During Pregnancy

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The Active Female

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Abstract

The benefits of exercise during pregnancy (for both mother and fetus) are well-supported in the literature. As such, pregnant women have the opportunity to continue an exercise program throughout pregnancy without having to postpone activity engagement until after postpartum. Knowledge and consideration about the physiological adaptations of both pregnancy and exercise must serve as the cornerstone to guide exercise prescription. Understanding the health considerations prior to implementing an exercise program become particularly salient as the activity affects not only the female, but her unborn child as well. The following chapter will focus on understanding the physiological considerations required for prescribing exercise during pregnancy, in order to promote positive adaptations without increased risk of negative outcomes for the mother and fetus. This will be underlaid with a review of the main exercise prescription guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Finally, practical ideas for exercises are suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AdventHealth Orlando, AdventHealth Translational Research Institute, Orlando, FL, USA

    Elvis Álvarez Carnero

  2. Department of Applied Health, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, USA

    Brianne L. Guilford

  3. Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Danika A. Quesnel

  4. Departmento de Ciencias de la Salud, Exercise Science, Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

    Claudia Cardona-Gonzalez

  5. Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb

  6. Department of Functional Biology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

    Maria Fernandez-del-Valle

  7. Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

    Maria Fernandez-del-Valle

Authors
  1. Elvis Álvarez Carnero
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  2. Brianne L. Guilford
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  3. Danika A. Quesnel
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  4. Claudia Cardona-Gonzalez
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  5. Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb
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  6. Maria Fernandez-del-Valle
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Correspondence to Maria Fernandez-del-Valle .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb

  2. Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Mimi Zumwalt

  3. Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

    Maria Fernandez-del-Valle

Chapter Review Questions

Chapter Review Questions

  1. 1.

    During pregnancy, peripheral vascular resistance decreases by approximately 35–50%. A consequence of reduced peripheral vascular resistance that occurs during pregnancy is:

    1. (a)

      Increased plasma volume

    2. (b)

      Decreased diastolic blood pressure

    3. (c)

      Hemodilution

    4. (d)

      Increased HR

  2. 2.

    Maternal hyperventilation results in which of the following:

    1. (a)

      Decreased CO2 in blood

    2. (b)

      Increased pH

    3. (c)

      Respiratory alkalosis

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  3. 3.

    Increased _____________ is the main factor causing increased release of T4 during pregnancy?

    1. (a)

      Increased weight gain

    2. (b)

      Estrogen

    3. (c)

      Progesterone

    4. (d)

      HCG

  4. 4.

    Which of the following are true regarding pregnancy?

    1. (a)

      Plasma triglycerides increase by threefold

    2. (b)

      Pancreatic insulin secretion is reduced

    3. (c)

      Cortisol is reduced

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  5. 5.

    Recommended total weight gain for a woman who is in the normal weight BMI category before pregnancy is ______________ while recommended total weight gain for a woman who is in the overweight BMI category is ________________.

    1. (a)

      12.5–18 kg, 7 kg

    2. (b)

      11.5–16 kg, 7–11.5 kg

    3. (c)

      11.5–16 kg, ≤7 kg

    4. (d)

      12.5–18 kg for both

  6. 6.

    It is recommended that a pregnant woman increase caloric intake by ____________ kcals per day during pregnancy.

    1. (a)

      100

    2. (b)

      300

    3. (c)

      500

    4. (d)

      650

  7. 7.

    Which of the following are true regarding the benefits of exercise in pregnant women?

    1. (a)

      VO2max can be maintained during pregnancy in exercising women

    2. (b)

      Pre-pregnancy exercise can lower the risk of gestational diabetes

    3. (c)

      Exercise during pregnancy can lower the risk of gestational diabetes

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  8. 8.

    What amount of PA is suggested for reduction of risk for preeclampsia?

    1. (a)

      >100 bouts per month

    2. (b)

      >50 bouts per month

    3. (c)

      >25 bouts per month

    4. (d)

      >10 bouts per month

  9. 9.

    Which of the following are effects of exercise during pregnancy?

    1. (a)

      Increases resting HR

    2. (b)

      Increases constipation

    3. (c)

      Increases insulin sensitivity

    4. (d)

      Increases risk for cesarean section

  10. 10.

    Which of the following are true regarding the effects of exercise on pregnancy or labor and delivery?

    1. (a)

      Increased placental volume

    2. (b)

      Decreased birth weight

    3. (c)

      Lower APGAR score

    4. (d)

      Lower infant HR

  11. 11.

    Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to exercise in pregnant women?

    1. (a)

      Severe anemia

    2. (b)

      Poorly controlled seizure disorder

    3. (c)

      Placenta previa (after 26 weeks gestation)

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  12. 12.

    Which of the following are true regarding exercise during pregnancy?

    1. (a)

      Pregnant women should avoid exercising in the heat

    2. (b)

      Pregnant women should accumulate at least 150 min of moderate exercise per week

    3. (c)

      Excessive exercise can cause low birth weight

    4. (d)

      All of the above

Answers

  1. 1.

    b

  2. 2.

    d

  3. 3.

    d

  4. 4.

    a

  5. 5.

    b

  6. 6.

    b

  7. 7.

    d

  8. 8.

    c

  9. 9.

    c

  10. 10.

    a

  11. 11.

    c

  12. 12.

    d

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Álvarez Carnero, E., Guilford, B.L., Quesnel, D.A., Cardona-Gonzalez, C., Robert-McComb, J.J., Fernandez-del-Valle, M. (2023). Exercise Guidelines During Pregnancy. In: Robert-McComb, J.J., Zumwalt, M., Fernandez-del-Valle, M. (eds) The Active Female. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15485-0_27

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