Wagga experts argue a client's prior exercise abilities will determine whether it is safe to undertake exercise while pregnant.
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It can be confusing for pregnant women to determine what is safe for them as the internet offers a plethora of information that is not always based on facts.
Mick Wainwright has been a personal trainer for 12 years and said he has trained about 30 pregnant clients over this time.
“It is all dependent on whether the client has been exercising previously,” Mr Wainwright said.
“If someone has not been participating in regular exercise and wanted to start exercising while pregnant, that is not allowed.
“Walks are OK, but when we participate in intense exercises our bodies are placed on intense stress and if that’s on top of being pregnant, it is just not safe.”
With jumping and weights often in question, Mr Wainwright said “high-impact exercises” involving jerky movements is not advisable, but modified weights can still be done.
“You have to be really careful of overheating during pregnancy exercises and hypoglycemia as well as monitoring the client for changes,” he said.
“Everybody is different and has a different pregnancy and each trimester will determine what can or cannot be done.
“After about 16 weeks, we usually have to avoid exercises laying on the back and those that place a significant load on the abdominal and pelvic floor.
“This includes exercises like planks and sit-ups and also avoiding stationary standing exercise that increase the risk of fainting,” he said.
Similarly, personal trainer Jo Cochrane said pregnant clients should first seek advice from their doctor and listen to their body.
“In my studies and what I’ve been taught is that exercise is fine for pregnant ladies as long as they are doing nothing more than what they’ve already been doing,” she said.
“If I had a client that was pregnant I would ask them what they’ve previously done and stick to that level and lower it as their pregnancy progresses.
“I definitely think it’s very healthy for pregnant ladies to train unless they have been advised by a medical profession that they shouldn’t.”
General Practitioner liaison for the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Jonathan Ho said pregnant women should follow the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines.
Based on evidence-based recommendations on the RANZCOG guidelines, women without contraindications should participate in regular aerobic and strength conditioning exercises during pregnancy.
Another evidence-based recommendation noted that women should also be advised that there is “no evidence” that regular exercise during an uncomplicated pregnancy is detrimental to the woman or fetus.
These follow consensus-based recommendations that identify the importance of gaining GP advice to determine the appropriate exercises in terms of frequency, intensity, duration and mode of exercise.
A Charles Sturt University social science researcher cautioned that a number of criteria needed to be considered and met before undertaking any strenuous exercise while pregnant.
“After seeking medical/health care advice and clearance to run while pregnant, and if the pregnant woman enjoys running, wants to run and feels they can run, then yes,” Professor Rylee Dionigi said.
“Pregnant women can run according to their own fitness levels and previous physical activity, sport or exercise experiences, and the stage of their pregnancy.
“But the woman’s medical/health care advice needs to be reviewed as a pregnancy progresses.”