TOPICS
EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY
Regular exercise during pregnancy improves blood circulation, muscle tone whilst reducing the severity of cramps and preventing excessive weight gain. Pregnancy should not impose any restrictions on exercise and most women can continue to exercise throughout their pregnancy, unless complications arise. Dr. Raviraj will advise you on how to manage your exercise plan should complications arise. However, if you were not on a regular exercise programme prior to your pregnancy, starting aerobics/strenuous exercise during pregnancy is not recommended. Women can do exercise as long as it is not excessively fatiguing or tiring. Regular exercise in the form of walking, swimming, water aerobics, using an exercise bike or pregnancy yoga, 3 times a week is considered safe during pregnancy. Exercise might become difficult as the pregnancy advances and you should decide on a comfortable level of exercise to perform.
Exercise should be restricted in certain situations such as when the pregnancy is complicated with:
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High Blood pressure.
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Multiple pregnancies
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Heart disease
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Vaginal bleeding secondary to placenta praevia – (placenta is low/covering the birth canal ) – all exercise should be avoided
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Pre-term labour
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Growth restricted babies.
If your pregnancy is complicated with diabetes, you will be encouraged to exercise which will help in controlling your blood sugars, in addition to diet and medications.
Some tips for exercise:
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Know your limitations – stop exercising if you become tired
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Drink plenty of water and keep your body temperature down
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Avoid spas, saunas and exercising in hot tubs or exercising on hot days
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Avoid contact sports or exercises that involve sudden movements such as jumping
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After the second trimester, avoid exercise that involve lying flat on your back
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Start doing pelvic floor exercises during your pregnancy and continue doing these during the postnatal period
TRAVEL DURING PREGNANCY
It is generally safe to travel throughout your pregnancy by road or air if there are no complications or concerns with the pregnancy, though the ideal time is the second trimester. Morning sickness during the first trimester might be exacerbated and make your journey unpleasant, and tiredness during the third trimester may make travelling difficult. Travelling in the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy might lead to pre-term labour.
General tips
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Check with the airlines about the requirements.
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Have a recent written document handy stating your due date and fitness to travel from your treating doctor.
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Try to book an aisle seat if possible
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Be aware of the risks of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with long distance travel and use the following precautions to minimise your risk:
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​Use supportive stockings
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Keep yourself well hydrated
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Exercise while seated
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Mobilise
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You must avoid travelling if you:
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Have had previous recurrent miscarriages
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Have had pre-term labour in the past
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Experience bleeding during pregnancy and have a low lying placenta
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Have multiple pregnancies
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Have high blood pressure or pre eclampsia.
You should also avoid travelling to areas where there is an epidemic of infectious diseases as most live vaccines are not safe during pregnancy.
Always discuss with your doctor before making any travel plans.