Pregnancy is a unique “teachable moment” during a woman’s life where improvements to lifestyle behaviors, including diet and physical activity, not only serve to enhance their health, but also the health of their child. Traditionally, physical activity declines during pregnancy due to psychological reasons, such as desire to engage in physical activity, and physiological reasons, including fatigue due to childbearing. Yet, there are several health benefits to maintaining or increasing physical activity during pregnancy. These include reducing the risk for excess gestational weight gain (GWG), development of gestational diabetes mellitus, birth complications and incidence of cesarean section, and birthing a baby large for gestational age.

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