Exercise helps control weight gain, strengthens your heart and blood vessels.
Exercise reduces risk of blood pressure problems including pre-eclampsia, helps prevent diabetes in pregnancy and reduces the need for an operative delivery.
Not only can you improve your fitness and find it easier to lose baby weight after your baby is born but you can benefit your pregnancy:
Better sleeping
Reduced back pain
Easing constipation
Improving your mood
Safety
If you are healthy and your pregnancy has no complications advising you not to exercise it is safe to continue or start regular physical activity.
Regular physical activity does not increase your risk of a miscarriage, having a small baby or having your baby early.
Conditions or pregnancy problems that you should not exercise with during pregnancy are:
Certain types of heart & lung disease
Having a cerclage in your cervix
Being pregnant with more than one baby
Having a placenta that is covering the cervix
If your waters have broken
If you have high blood pressure including pre-eclampsia
Severe anaemia
Finally
Aim for at least two and a half hours of moderate intense activity throughout the week.
This can include being out & about, activities around the home, dancing and using leisure facilities.