Heavy Exercise During Pregnancy

Duration and Intensity

LiveStrong.com—November 18, 2010

Because every woman is different, the level of intensity when exercising during pregnancy varies. According to the Women's Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery, a woman who does not regularly exercise should work out at an intensity of 60 to 75 percent of her maximum heart rate, and a woman who exercises regularly should work out at 70 to 80 percent of her normal maximum heart rate. It is also recommended that you exercise three to four times per week. When exercising while pregnant, it is most important to pay close attention to your body and stop whenever you feel pain or even mild discomfort.

Reference: Hospital for Special Surgery: Exercise During Pregnancy

This article originally appeared at LiveStrong.com.