It is still believed that during pregnancy expectant mothers should mainly rest and eat well in order to give birth to a healthy child. New studies prove that active sports during pregnancy, when a few rules are followed, do not harm the fetus, and on the contrary – increase its tone and vitality. While pregnant, a woman is never alone: ​​whether she is running through the forest, doing yoga exercises or visiting the gym, the child is always with her. What effect does this sporting activity have on the developing fetus? A normal fetal heart rate is about 140 beats per minute. When the mother exerts herself physically, the child’s heart rate rises to 160, after which it returns to its usual values ​​relatively quickly. Specialists define this change as a small training for the still unborn person. What was considered extremely dangerous during pregnancy – active sports, is now recommended by the doctors themselves. Regular exercise maintains the tone of the uterus, limits lower back pain and fluid retention in the body, and last but not least, prevents excessive weight gain. It is even believed that the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes and depression also decreases with regular exercise. According to a study by the American John Hopkins University, even intense training does not have a negative effect on the condition of the fetus. Of course, a distinction must be made between a normal pregnancy and one at risk. That is why, before engaging in active sports during pregnancy, it is still necessary to discuss your condition with a specialist obstetrician-gynecologist. Which sports are suitable? Considering the situation in which a woman is at such a stage of her life and the rapid change in her physical condition, the appropriate exercises are those that improve the endurance of her body – these are the so-called cardio exercises: walking, swimming, cycling . Even training the abdominal muscles is not prohibited, but it is still good not to do sit-ups after 20 weeks of gestation. NEWS_MORE_BOX How much we can exert ourselves during pregnancy also depends on our physical condition until the moment of conception. Sporting mothers-to-be can safely continue with jogging, volleyball or aerobics. Of course, it is necessary to avoid extreme loads and high temperatures. When jogging, it is proper to prefer the morning hours. Most sports centers organize special groups for pregnant women, where sports are practiced in a lighter version. Weight lifting, prolonged jumping and wrestling are activities that should be avoided by delicate ladies. Specialists have also determined absolutely contraindicated types of sports activities, some of which are skiing or snowboarding, horse riding, inline skating, surfing, diving, etc. The danger with them comes not so much from the strain on the body,as from falling and causing injuries to the abdomen or other part of the body that would have an adverse effect on the baby. Another reason is that outdoor sports are practiced in places where there is no access to specialized medical care. When a woman is in advanced pregnancy, whether she is playing sports, working, shopping or just relaxing, she needs to be in a place where she can move quickly to a specialist hospital if she feels something is wrong with the baby. ok, is bleeding or feels severe pain. The reaction at such times must be immediate to avoid severe complications.