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CF CLINICAL FOCUS 53
guidelines — namely , high intensity and prolonged duration — should seek advice and guidance from a knowledgeable health professional . It is important for all health professionals who advise pregnant women to be familiar with contraindications and warning signs to stop physical activity / exercise ( see table 1 ).
Conclusion
Pregnancy represents an excellent opportunity for health professionals to encourage women to engage in regular physical activity / exercise — not only for a healthy pregnancy but to establish or maintain habits that can help achieve better lifelong wellbeing . The recently published guidelines are a useful tool for health professionals to support women to be active and healthy during pregnancy and beyond .
Online resources
• Department of Health : Evidence-based physical activity guidelines for pregnant women bit . ly / 3rvL1k2
• Department of Health resources bit . ly / 3FQvVep
• Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults 2021 bit . ly / 3rvX94A
• Australian Screening Tool for Physical Activity / Exercise during Pregnancy 2021 bit . ly / 3qCTmTR
Table 1 . Risks and contraindications for physical activity / exercise during pregnancy
Warning signs to stop physical activity / exercise Pregnant women who experience any of the following symptoms during physical activity / exercise should stop and seek advice from a health professional before continuing with a physical activity / exercise program :
• Chest pain
• Persistent excessive shortness of breath that does not resolve with rest
• Severe headache
• Persistent dizziness / feeling faint that does not resolve with rest
• Regular painful uterine contractions
• Vaginal bleeding
• Persistent loss of fluid from the vagina , indicating possible ruptured membranes
Absolute contraindications Pregnant women who experience any of the following are advised not to exercise until individually tailored advice has been sought :
• Poorly controlled type 1 diabetes , hypertension or thyroid disease
• Other serious cardiovascular , respiratory or systemic disorders
• Pre-eclampsia
• Incompetent cervix
• Ruptured membranes , preterm labour
• Persistent second- or third-trimester bleeding
• Placenta previa
• Evidence of intrauterine growth restriction
• Multiple gestation ( triplets or higher number )
Relative contraindications Pregnant women with a history of , or who develop , the following conditions during pregnancy should discuss starting or continuing physical activity / exercise with their health professional :
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Mild / moderate cardiovascular or chronic respiratory disease
• Type 1 diabetes
• Symptomatic anaemia
• Poorly controlled seizure disorder
• History of spontaneous miscarriage , preterm labour or fetal growth restriction
• Malnutrition , significantly underweight or eating disorder
• Twin pregnancy after the 28th week
• Other significant medical conditions
Muscle strengthening exercises help reduce musculoskeletal discomfort as pregnancy progresses .