Bed rest during pregnancy – Dr.Bandita Sinha, Senior Consultant Gynaecologist & IVF Expert advice 

- What are the complications that arise if a woman becomes inactive during her pregnancy for no reason? 

• Although  bed rest is sometimes recommended in certain pregnancy conditions. But prolonged bed rest can cause harm instead of help in pregnancy. Prolonged bed rest can cause following problems:-
• Loss of muscle function causing muscle weakness and pain.
• Bone demoralization leading to bone loss, causing backaches, and hip pain.
• Maternal weight loss (as mother eats less during bed rest) leads to low birth weight babies.
• Increase chances of blood clots may cause venous thrombo embolism
• Both antepartum and postpartum depression and mood changes
• Reflux , indigestion, fatigue, sleep cycle changes

Why is it necessary for a woman to be active while she’s pregnant?

• Ans : PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PREGNANCY
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY has following advantages-
• helps to maintain a healthy weight during and after pregnancy.
• better sleep and reduces fatigue
• reduces chances of varicose veins
• reduces likelihood of swelling of feet, ankle and hands
• reduce chances and severity of anxiety and depression
• prevents back pain
• reduces chances of developing gestational diabetes and high B.P. in woman who develop diabetes during pregnancy, regular physical activity helps to improve the control of their diabetes
• shortens labour and reduces chances of complications during delivery of the baby

Which exercises are deemed okay for pregnant women? What activities should she avoid doing?

EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY

• Pregnant women should aim to do a mixture of aerobic and muscle strengthening physical activity.
• Aerobic activity makes heart and lungs stronger.e.g- brisk walking .Jogging, swimming ordancing, climbing stairs and gardening.
• Muscle strengthening activity includes climbing stairs, walking uphill, yoga.
• Pelvic floor exercises are also important during pregnancy and are advised to all pregnant women.
• Pelvic floor exercises help to strengthen a pelvic floor muscle which comes under pressure during labour.

ACTIVITIES TO BE AVOIDED

• Training for peak fitness, sport training, horse riding, scuba diving, squash, boxing and kick boxing should be avoided.
• In case of any complication related to pregnancy like cervical incompetence, multifetal pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, and placenta Previa, uncontrolled B.P. it is always better to take advice from the treating doctor. Pregnancy related any exercise should always be done under supervision with a trained person.