BLACK : THE HEALTH MAGAZINE Vol3 | Page 16

When Beyonce was pregnant (nonbeliever just hear us out) everybody was wondering how she stayed looking so good? She claimed that her secret was to adapt an exercise regime to ensure she stayed in shape, while keeping it safe for herself and her baby. Hi Blue!! Twenty years ago, doctors would have told Beyonce to have a seat during her pregnancy because there was no information or research available on the effects of exercise during pregnancy. You know whatever doctors don’t know scares them! The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AOGC) no longer places restrictions on heart rate during aerobic sessions. Prior to 2002, doctors has advised women to limit their heart rate to no more than 140 beats per minute to during pregnancy. That’s the equivalent to a recommended heart rate for an 80 year old person. We now know that you need to be physically active during your pregnancy. The benefits range from better pregnancy outcomes to a shorter labor time. “It’s a win-win for baby and for mom,” says high risk pregnancy expert Laura Riley, MD, spokeswoman for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist(AOGC) and author of Pregnancy: You a