Exercises to avoid during pregnancy
There are plenty of exercises that are great for pregnant women. Most physical activity is perfectly safe during pregnancy. However, there are a few exercises you’ll want to avoid:
- Sports that carry a higher risk of falling or abdominal injury
- Sports that involve altitude change. Avoid any activity that takes you up more than 6,000 feet.
- Scuba Diving: Poses a risk of decompression sickness for your baby, is also off-limits.
- Exercises that involve lying flat on your back for long periods are off-limits after the fourth month.
- Advanced abdominal moves, like full sit-ups or double leg lifts, can pull on the abdomen.
- Exercise in super-hot weather: Any exercise or environment that raises your body temperature more than 1.5 degrees F should be avoided.
- Backbends or other contortions, as well as movements that involve deep flexion or extension of joints.
- Jumping, bouncing, and sudden, jerky motions.
- Excessive or bouncy stretching. Since your ligaments are already looser, pregnancy isn’t the time to force a split.
- Holding your breath is never recommended during pregnancy. Both you and your baby need a constant flow of oxygen