Motherhood is probably one of the most intense experiences of a woman’s life. Pregnancy is not a disease but a normal phase in the life of a mother … and a father!
By cons, there is no denying that the process of pregnancy involves major changes in the physiology of the female body. Many mothers who were active before becoming pregnant are wondering if they can continue to exercise, while others settled before fertilization, wonder if they can initiate a practice of regular physical activity.
To understand why exercise is not harmful to the mother, we must realize that for hundreds of thousands of years, the human body has adapted beautifully to the process of gestation, even when the mother was obliged to remain very active. For centuries, even pregnant women were as long as possible to keep working, whether in fields or inside and that work was often very painful.
Consequently, the female body is extremely effective in protecting the fetus: whether the strategic positioning of it in the body of the mother, for the physical protection afforded by the amniotic fluid or physiological mechanisms ensuring stability chemical internal environment of the body and maintaining its temperature. The physical effort and reasonable place in a healthy environment is not detrimental to the embryo or fetus. In fact, the physical effort is also good for pregnant women than any other human being.
Unfortunately, health professionals have traditionally tended to be extremely conservative in relation to pregnancy and physical activity. This situation is changing more and more for the advancement of knowledge in human physiology suggests that the benefits of exercise far outweigh the disadvantages for both mother and child, and that the traditional recommendations were too conservative. Furthermore, studies show that physical activity before and during pregnancy may predispose a pregnancy “easier.” For example, Rudra (2005) has shown that regular physical activity could reduce risk of preeclampsia. Other studies show a decreased incidence of meconium (material in the intestine and expelled the fetus after birth), fewer abnormal fetal heart rate, less entanglement of the umbilical cord and better indices of ‘APGAR (evaluating the general condition of the newborn) in women with physical activity during pregnancy. (more…)
