The Gym Can Tame Fat During Pregnancy
Robert Latkany, MDOctober 13, 2009
I often see pregnant women at the gym on the treadmill, stretching and lifting weights. Is this safe? Yes, apparently it is. 
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports exercise during pregnancy.
A study by Barakat et al determined that light intensity resistance training during the second and third trimesters does not have a negative impact on the newborn’s size or health. However, it’s also not necessarily a given that exercise during pregnancy results in an easier delivery. In a study by Barkaet et al research showed that the same type of training late in pregnancy did not predict the type of delivery.
Increased aerobic fitness does, however, shorten the duration of labor in nulliparous women in spontaneous labor according to Kardel et al . But here’s the real payoff: Stuebe et al found that a healthy diet, mid-pregnancy walking and vigorous physical activity were all protective against excessive weight gain during pregnancy. I’m guessing this is a strong motivator for some of the pregnant women I see at the gym.
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