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Running While Pregnant

You Don't Have to Give it Up

By Teri Brown

(Lifeline Press, 2004). She believes while running is a wonderful form of exercise for pregnant women, it's probably not the right time to start running if you have never done it before.

"There is no real medical reason for a woman not to start during this time, but running is intense, and I think women should give themselves a break and not be taking on something this taxing in the middle of a pregnancy," says Bridson. According to Bridson, most experts agree a woman can run for up to one hour, three to four times a week, at a moderate to somewhat hard intensity.

"Running does not cause pre-term labor, miscarriage or any other such problems," says Bridson. "In fact, weight-bearing [on your feet] aerobic exercise in pregnancy has actually been linked to ower rates of pre-term labor and miscarriage. Running and that perceived 'jarring action' will not cause any harm to the baby."

Bridson says your belly hardly moves when running, though many women choose to stop running toward the end of their pregnancy due to discomfort. Though running is thought to be quite safe during pregnancy, there are things women need to keep in mind. For instance, stretching should be done very cautiously, as a woman's ligaments become softer while she is pregnant. More tips for running while pregnant include:

• Be very cautious when running on uneven surfaces. Your center of gravity changes as your abdomen expands. Some experts suggest running on a treadmill at a gym after the second trimester to avoid potentially harmful falls.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause pre-term labor.
• Remember that your breasts will expand along with your belly and need extra support. Some women wear a soft underwire bra with a sports bra over the top for comfort while running.
• Another thing to remember is that your feet often get bigger with pregnancy. Watch the fit of your shoes and move up to a bigger size as needed.
• Remember that many women stop running at some point during their pregnancy so allow yourself the leeway to stop if you are no longer comfortable.

Want to see more?

• To Believe or Not to Believe? Debunking Common Pregnancy Myths
• Pregnant? It's Not Too Late to Start Exercising
• Exercise Your Way through Pregnancy
• Talk about it!