My Goal: Pregnancy & Sports Participation

Pregnancy and Sports Participation

Recently, there has been much controversy about the role of pregnant women in sports. Experts in the fields of medicine, law, insurance and ethics presented current research, statistics and information relating to this topic at the National Forum on Pregnancy and Sport conducted in Sydney, Australia, in 2001. The following is a brief summary of the key points made by the medical presenters (SMA 2001):

• Medical evidence suggests that healthy pregnant women (with normal pregnancies) can participate in sports without affecting the course or outcome of the pregnancy. (The panel did make some provisos in terms of type, intensity, duration and frequency of exercise.)
• Pregnant athletes should avoid maximal-intensity exercise, have a thorough cool-down period of gentle exercise, avoid excessive stretching and jerky ballistic movements, ensure adequate fluid intake, and pay attention to core body temperature.
• The fetus is extremely well protected from blows to the abdomen during the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy.
• The risk of abdominal injuries during sports (for both men and women) is extremely low. Current research indicates that fewer than two percent of all injuries, including those that occur during contact sports, involve the abdomen or chest area.
• The pregnant woman, herself, is best placed to know (generally from discomfort and lack of coordination) when to stop participating.
• Pregnant women should seek advice from medical professionals and, if appropriate, seek a second opinion.
• No medical evidence has linked adverse outcomes for the fetus (including miscarriage) to sporting injuries. Statistics and research on adverse outcomes following severe or catastrophic trauma to pregnant women relate almost exclusively to road trauma and domestic violence.

A Safe Delivery

It's true that pregnancy can detract from an athlete's ability to attain peak performance levels in elite competition. But that doesn't mean pregnant athletes need to lower their activity to negligible levels. As long as they listen to their bodies, it should be safe for them to exercise at pre-pregnancy training levels throughout their pregnancies.
As for returning to training after delivery, this is up to each individual and her physician. The conservative approach is to refrain from vigorous exercise for at least six weeks--longer for those with special needs--but many athletes start training earlier than that, provided they have medical clearance to do so.
Although experts have not established an upper level of safe activity for pregnant athletes, the benefits of continuing to be active during pregnancy appear to outweigh any potential risks. Unfortunately, no exact limits for frequency, duration and intensity are available. It is ultimately up to each woman--with the help and advice of her physician and fitness professionals-- to decide the fitness path to take during pregnancy.
Finally, no matter how fit a client is, she should not be exercising if she has any of the following contraindications:

• Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Preterm rupture of placenta membranes
• Preterm labor during the current pregnancy or previous pregnancies
• Incompetent cervix
• Persistent bleeding during the second or third trimester
• Intrauterine growth retardation

Warning Signs

If a pregnant client exhibits any of the following signs, she should immediately discontinue exercising and receive medical attention:

• Pain
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Faintness
• Vaginal bleeding
• Difficulty walking
• Contractions
• Unusual absence of fetal movements (but note that the baby is often most quiet when the mother is exercising)