Exercise Regimen in Pregnancy: Indications, Contraindications Permissible Types and Benefits: Indications, Contraindications Permissible Types and Benefits

Exercise has been copiously reported as a great tool in medical and health care, both at prophylactic and therapeutic levels. The review critically examined exercise in pregnancy, considering contraindications, indications, limitations and permissible exercises in the different trimesters. It identified contraindications to exercise prescription during pregnancy such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, ruptured membranes, incompetent cervix, bleeding in the second or third trimester, multiple gestations at risk for premature labour, placenta praevia, premature labour with intrauterine growth restriction, extremes of weight, and poorly controlled medical co-morbidities. The review discussed effects of exercise on maternal and foetal health including prevention of perinatal depression, increased incidence of vaginal delivery, reduced labour time, reduced caesarian sessions, improved maternal-foetal circulation and foetal growth, prevention of hypertension and preeclampsia, and reduced incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus. The need to encourage pregnant women to adhere to exercise in pregnancy was assigned to health educators for better health promotion and health-seeking behaviour.