Location:
Call: 040 4488 5333
[email protected]

24 April, 2019

10 Physical Activities to Avoid during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of great joy in a woman’s life. It brings about a lot of changes in her emotional and physical state. During this time, an active woman will like nothing better than to continue doing things as normally as possible. However, there are some activities which could prove to be dangerous for both the mom and the little one inside her womb.

If you’re pregnant, stay clear of these activities to enjoy a healthy and happy pregnancy.

Physical Activities to Avoid during Pregnancy

Although exercising and light activities are recommended during pregnancy, there are some activities that are best avoided when you’re expecting. These are some of them.

  1. Heavyweight Training

Women who perform heavyweight training activities should refrain from doing so during pregnancy. Lifting heavy weights can strain your back and pelvis, and can also lead to leaking. It may also cause prolapse where the uterus slips into the vagina. In case you need to lift something heavy, try to hold it closer to your body while bending your knees slowly, and avoid involving the back or twist while lifting. Women who have had a miscarriage in the past must refrain from weight training altogether.

  1. Exercises that require lying on stomach

Lying on the stomach is not advisable at any point during pregnancy. Not only is this position extremely uncomfortable, it has the potential to also injure the baby, especially after the first trimester. Even a small injury can have a big impact on you and your baby. Therefore, if you must, try modifying your exercise or avoid this position altogether. Talk to our doctors to know more about the right exercises for you during pregnancy.

  1. Rides in Amusement Parks

This one is pretty basic and an absolute no during pregnancy. Amusement parks are best avoided when you’re expecting. The rapid, jerky motions of a roller-coaster and other similar rides can harm both you and your baby. It can also cause more nausea and dizziness which can also cause other complications.

  1. Certain Yoga Positions

Although yoga may be beneficial during pregnancy, there are some positions that require a lot of stretching and twisting, and must be avoided altogether. Closed twists, belly down postures, full inversions, and backbends are some positions to avoid. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for a while, make sure you talk to your doctor before continuing it during pregnancy. You can also attend prenatal yoga classes which help pregnant women carry out yoga positions that are not harmful to them.

  1. Cycling

While some expecting women may continue riding a cycle until their second trimester, it may not be a great idea for other pregnant women who are not used to riding. As the pregnancy progresses, the center of balance shifts, making it difficult to cycle. Riding in crowded roads may also not be as safe. However, riding a stationary bike until the second trimester may be ok for women who want to get some physical activity.

  1. High Impact Aerobics

High impact aerobics can increase the likelihood of falling and injuring joints and ligaments that balance the body. Even seasoned professionals should avoid aerobics during their second and third trimesters. At this time, the ligaments tend to become loose and are more susceptible to injury.

  1. Rigorous Activities

When you’re pregnant, time to take it easy and avoid any rigorous activity. If you want to exercise, restrict it to your home or at a nearby gym. Try only light exercises with the air condition on, to avoid overheating. Make sure that your heart rate is below 140 beats per minute and the temperature below 102 degrees. If you feel exhausted or tired, stop and take plenty of rest. But always remember to ask your doctor before trying any physical activity.

  1. Water-based activities

Avoid any intense water-based activities such as swimming, scuba diving or snorkeling etc. during your pregnancy. When you surface over water, there are chance of air bubbles to form in your bloodstream, putting you and your baby at risk. Activities such as surfing and water-skiing also have an increased risk of falls and injury, and are best avoided during pregnancy. The decompression during scuba diving could also adversely affect your baby.

  1. Sports like Tennis

Women who have been playing tennis regularly can continue playing it through the first trimester of their pregnancy. A woman’s body balance changes from the second trimester on, which greatly increases the risk of a fall or an injury. Hence, such sports should be avoided during pregnancy.

  1. Running and Jogging

Running and jogging may be good for you if you have been in the habit. But it might not be a good idea to start a fresh running or jogging routine during your pregnancy. It is always better to walk than run or jog, as you may not lose control over your speed and have lesser chances of injury.

It is important to be physically active during pregnancy as it prevents complications and ensures that your body is ready for labor. However, a pregnant woman should take proper precautions while performing any physical activity. She needs to be careful in her movements, especially after the first trimester. Consult your doctor before you start any exercise or physical activity. Our expert team at KIMS Cuddles will help you with prenatal exercise routine to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.

*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.

SIMILAR ARTICLES

blog featured image

29 July, 2026

Irregular Periods: When to Investigate

Period irregularity is something many women experience at some point, and most learn to live with it, at least for a while. A late period during a stressful month, a lighter cycle after illness, a missed period after a long flight. These variations are common and usually self-correcting. The problem is that irregular periods are also how the body signals conditions that genuinely need attention, and because the irregularity can feel familiar, it is easy to keep waiting for things to normalise when they never will without proper evaluation.Knowing where the line sits between normal variation and something worth investigating is genuinely useful.What counts as irregularA normal menstrual cycle runs anywhere from 24 to 38 days, measured from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Variation of up to eight days between the shortest and longest cycle is considered normal. Lengths ranging between 8 and 20 days of variation are considered moderately irregular, and variation of 21 days or more is considered very irregular.Changes outside the cycle length are also irregular. Periods that are either much heavier or lighter than normal, periods that are much longer or shorter than normal, periods between periods, and periods that are absent altogether, in a woman not pregnant, breastfeeding, or in menopause,
Read More
blog featured image

29 July, 2026

Fertility Decline: What Women Should Know

Conversations about fertility tend to happen too late. Women often begin thinking seriously about their reproductive timeline only when they are ready to conceive. At this point, some of the most important biological facts have already been playing out for years without their awareness. The decline in female fertility with age is one of the most consistently misunderstood aspects of reproductive health, and the gap between what women know and what the biology actually shows is significant.This is not about creating anxiety. It is about giving women accurate information early enough to make genuinely informed decisions.The Fundamental BiologyA woman is born with all the eggs she is going to have in her lifetime. Her eggs age with her, decreasing in quality and quantity. Age is the single most important factor affecting a woman's fertility.Females are born with a finite number of oocytes. The number of oocytes peaks in the womb at around 20 weeks of gestation and subsequently declines steadily until approximately age 32, after which the number decreases at a greater rate until age 37, beyond which oocyte numbers drop even more rapidly.This is not something that can be slowed by fitness, diet, or general good health. Even though women today are healthier and taking better care of themselves than ever before, improved
Read More
blog featured image

29 July, 2026

PMOS: Causes Beyond Hormones

Most patients understand Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS, as a hormonal condition. Irregular periods, elevated androgens, and ovarian cysts on an ultrasound. The hormonal picture is real, but it is only part of the story. Decades of research have made it increasingly clear that PMOS is far more complex than a hormonal imbalance in isolation. It involves the metabolic system, the immune system, the gut, and genetics, all interacting in ways that produce a condition that looks different in every woman who has it.Understanding the fuller picture of what causes PMOS matters because it changes how the condition is managed and why lifestyle interventions work as well as they do.What PMOS Actually InvolvesPolycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder, typically characterised by hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, menstrual disorders, and infertility. The name itself reflects what the condition truly is. The metabolic component is not secondary to the ovarian and hormonal picture. It is central to it. Treating the hormonal symptoms without addressing the underlying metabolic drivers is one reason PMOS management often produces only partial results.Insulin Resistance Sits at the CentrePMOS insulin resistance, where cells throughout the body fail to respond normally to insulin, is considered the primary pathological basis for the reproductive dysfunction seen in PMOS.
Read More
Loading booking..