Dr. Brian McDonough on Exercising During Pregnancy

NEW YORK -- Should you exercise when you are pregnant?

The answer is yes, but there are some things that you have to take into account before you start exercise and proper conditioning can help with the labor and certainly improve overall blood supply to the baby, but women who are pregnant need to realize that they should not expect to do more than when they were not pregnant.

In other words, if you were spending twenty minutes on the treadmill or working with a trainer at the health club, you can probably continue.

But you shouldn’t start radically new programs.

Here is what I suggest…first, take advantage of the fact you have an obstetrician and specifically ask about your situation. The other point is if you’re thinking about getting pregnant, start an exercise program now. This will allow you to have a starting point prior to pregnancy.

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