Sports activities and pregnancy are not incompatible! This is what Anna Roy, midwife, explains to us in her book co-written with Dr. Pfersdorff, pediatrician.
- Except in special cases (certain sports or existence of underlying diseases), sport is not contraindicated during pregnancy.
- You must know how to listen to the warning signals (shortness of breath, palpitations, etc.) in the event of sporting activities during pregnancy.
- The benefits of sport during pregnancy are numerous: reduced risk of lower back pain, gestational diabetes, urinary incontinence, etc.
According to’INSEE, births continue to decline. The sociologist Catherine Scornet on franceinfo specifies in this respect that “ times of crisis encourage couples to have fewer children “. But nothing is lost. And this is partly why it is necessary that as soon as the idea of conceiving a child arises, couples, and in particular the woman, are reassured about a future pregnancy. But what about physical activity and sport during pregnancy: contraindicated or not?
To answer this, we delved into “ Your pregnancy » (released October 4, 2023), the book by Anna Roy, Parisian midwife recognized in the health sector, and Dr Arnault Pfersdorff, renowned Strasbourg pediatrician, specialist in child development. In 2024, the year of Great National Cause 2024 “Move 30 minutes every day” in view of the Olympic Games Paris 2024we have extracted from this book some reassuring answers to the questions you ask yourself about sport during pregnancy.
Sport and pregnancy: incompatible?
When some will tell you that it is possible to exercise while pregnant, others will try to convince you otherwise. But what is it really?
Sports to avoid are those for which there are medical contraindications that prevent you (and not anyone else) from playing sports and sometimes even limit your level of physical activity. Anna Roy specifies “ that they are not that numerous in reality “. For example, it could be “ the threat of premature birth, multiple pregnancies, severe chronic pathologies… “. So it depends on the woman. On the other hand, she warns against certain sporting practices, such as sports:
• with risk of falling: mountain biking, skiing, horse riding, etc.
• with risk of blows: boxing, karate, etc.
• and scuba diving, which is strictly not recommended.
Anna Roy rightly recalls “ that we never regret having been too careful. On the other hand, we always regret not having been enough “.
Sport and pregnancy: vigilance in the face of warning signals
Some warnings and advice are given in this guide: “ learn to listen to signals […] of your body! “. According to Anna Roy, it is necessary to:
- Consider warming up and stretching.
- Be vigilant about your positioning (your center of gravity changes over the weeks).
- Remember to hydrate sufficiently and not practice sports in the heat or at high altitude.
- Adapt your dietary needs to the effort made.
- If you experience dizziness, discomfort, palpitations or other symptoms, stop immediately and seek medical advice.
- Do not do sessions as intense as before (if you were already doing sports before pregnancy). Shortness of breath that makes it difficult to speak is not a good thing.
- If you take three days to recover from each session, it means you need to know how to stop.
Sport and pregnancy: undeniable benefits
Let’s not forget that sport has many benefits, even while pregnant: prevention of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, reduction of pelvic and lower back pain, the risk of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum, excessive baby weight at birth, labor time and recourse to cesarean section. THE benefits physical and sporting activities are no longer to be proven, pregnant or not. And it is even possible to start a sport while pregnant. Just don’t force it and don’t ” set the bar too high “. Do not hesitate to seek advice from your midwives or your doctor.
And as Anna Roy says, limiting yourself to yoga, swimming, barre and Pilates is not an obligation! “ Labor and delivery are very physical times. And it is therefore better to be in good physical condition. » She also advises her patients to take between 6,000 and 10,000 steps per day and a sporting activity 2 to 3 times per week (lasting 15 to 60 minutes).
Sport and pregnancy: a guide to support you
“ Your pregnancy » aims to be a complete guide to pregnancy, from the desire to have a child to postpartum. Describing precisely, and with beautiful illustrations, the stages of pregnancy, but also the period preceding conception and also once baby arrives, it responds precisely and clearly to the many questions and fears that couples may have. It allows you to anticipate your pregnancy and experience it well once it is underway.
Divided into themes (Before getting pregnant ; Pregnant, your health; Your baby during pregnancy; Childbirth; Your baby when born; Postpartum), this book promises us a mixed and complementary approach from a midwife and a pediatrician. A mission that seems successful.
