Exercises You Should Avoid

While there are benefits of exercising during pregnancy, there are also plenty of things to take into consideration before commencing an exercise program. 

Most importantly, be sure to consult your physician first.

It is best to avoid:

• exercises that increase your risk of falls or injury.
• contact sports, high impact exercises and strenuous sports.
• any sport or exercise that might lead to any trauma to the stomach, as even light trauma to the stomach can hurt the fetus.
• exercises where you are lying on your back, as the weight of the baby can disrupt blood circulation. Affecting your blood circulation can significantly impact your baby, as well. 
• jumping or any activities where there are sudden changes of direction.
• long periods of standing so this should be considered when choosing your exercise.
• exercising in extremely hot or cold conditions -- hot days can be especially hard on pregnant women and their babies. If you need to exercise in the summer, it is best to choose to exercise in the early morning or evening time when the temperature is lower.