Although exercise has health benefits for everyone, there are special reasons for pregnant women and new mothers to have a regular exercise program. New York doctors have found that regular exercise during pregnancy may help prevent miscarriage of normal babies. Most miscarriages involve babies with chromosomal abnormalities, but among women with chromosomally normal babies, women who exercised regularly during pregnancy had a 40 percent lower rate of miscarriage. Other activities did not have the same effect, so it appears the duration and frequency of an exercise program are responsible for what has the beneficial effect. Doctors caution that there's still a lot about miscarriage we don't understand, so women shouldn't feel like they're at fault if they had a miscarriage and didn't exercise.
Exercise also can help new mothers get back to normal more quickly.
Researchers in Michigan found that women who exercised regularly after their babies were born had an easier time getting back to their pre-pregnancy weight and felt better about themselves than women who did not exercise. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say pregnant women and new moms should check with their doctors to see if an exercise program is recommended for them. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.