Physical activity recommendations for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period | Knowledge for policy

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Physical activity recommendations for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period as described by health-related organisations

Source	Recommendation
Danish Health Authority 2014	Be physically active for at least 30 minutes per day. The activity should be of moderate intensity and should extend beyond the usual short-term daily activities. If the 30 minutes are divided, each activity should last at least 10 minutes. Note that physical activity in addition to the recommendations will have further health benefits. The recommendations apply to healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy. Pregnant women with a complicated disease history should consult their physician or midwife. Contact sports and team sports which involve a risk of collision with fellow players and opponents are not recommended for pregnant women as there is considerable risk of unexpected jolts. Likewise, skiing and riding should be avoided as falls can lead to serious injury. Pregnant women are advised not to engage in high-intensity physical activity where their blood circulation is pushed to the limit if they have not engaged in high-intensity exercise prior to becoming pregnant
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2018	Women should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Preferably, aerobic activity should be spread throughout the week. Women who habitually engaged in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or who were physically active before pregnancy can continue these activities during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Women who are pregnant should be under the care of health care provider who can monitor the progress of the pregnancy. Women who are pregnant can consult their health care provider about whether or how to adjust their physical activity during pregnancy and after the baby is born.
NHS New Physical Activity and Pregnancy Guidelines 2017	Throughout the pregnancy aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity every week Do muscle strengthening activities twice a week Every activity counts, in bouts of at least 10 minutes
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2017	Physical activity in pregnancy has minimal risks and has been shown to benefit most women, although some modification to exercise routines may be necessary because of normal anatomic and physiologic changes and fetal requirements. A thorough clinical evaluation should be conducted before recommending an exercise program to ensure that a patient does not have a medical reason to avoid exercise. Women with uncomplicated pregnancies should be encouraged to engage in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises before, during, and after pregnancy. Obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care providers should carefully evaluate women with medical or obstetric complications before making recommendations on physical activity participation during pregnancy. Although frequently prescribed, bed rest is only rarely indicated and, in most cases, allowing ambulation should be considered

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