![]() “It urges caution and is packed with disclaimers that make it easy to think that the most normal things are an unnecessary risk,” says Clark. ![]() ![]() She says official advice usually encourages only gentle exercise, and it can be disquieting. Kelly Clark, head of National Cycle Network in London at Sustrans, was commuting around 60 miles a week by bike before her first pregnancy, as well as longer half-day or full-day road or mountain bike rides. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) website currently lists numerous advantages, from helping to reduce high blood pressure and lowering the risk of pre-eclampsia (a pregnancy complication) to shortening the length of labour and improving the likelihood of a straightforward labour and recovery. The benefits of exercising while pregnant are, of course, many. There are many benefits of cycling while pregnant. “A lot of it was evidence-based advice for exercise in pregnancy, such as Jessica Ennis-Hill’s blog and the Bump it Up book by Professor Greg Whyte.” Benefits of exercising while pregnant “It was inclusive from the elite athlete perspective through to beginner cyclists,” says Dr Douglas. The NHS advises consulting your maternity team if in doubt.ĭr Douglas says cycling role models and athletes such as Sarah Storey, Deignan and Laura Kenny were a helpful source of advice and support for Rebecca through social media. Falls carry a risk of damage to your baby.”Īs for intensity? “Do not exhaust yourself” and “As a general rule, you should be able to hold a conversation as you exercise when pregnant”. Indeed, the NHS website offers a page of generic ‘Exercise in pregnancy’ advice, including “Keep up your normal exercise for as long as you feel comfortable” and “Exercises that have a risk of falling, such as horse riding, downhill skiing, ice hockey, gymnastics and cycling, should only be done with caution. “I have knowledge and training in it from my job as a GP, but otherwise the information from most sources, such as midwives, GPs and pregnancy booklets, is fairly limited,” he admits. Sheffield-based GP Dr Andy Douglas, whose wife Rebecca Douglas continued cycling during her pregnancy in 2021 – including cycling to her scans – says there is a lack of advice around exercise, and specifically cycling, during pregnancy.
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