Your Health and Physical Activity During Pregnancy

Exercise and regular physical activity remains important during pregnancy.

If you have an exercise routine, you can continue this throughout your pregnancy as long as you’re comfortable. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you need to adjust your physical activity. You may also want to seek out a qualified prenatal fitness program.

To protect your health from illness and infection:

Take preventive measures against serious illnesses that may be circulating. Listeriosis outbreaks, for example, have occurred annually for the last several years—each involving foods contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium listeria monocytogenes.

Pregnant women have a higher risk of contracting this infection, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a life-threatening infection in a newborn. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides these tips for prevention of listeriosis.
Get vaccinated against the flu, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. The American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women receive all of these immunizations.
Tell your dentist and any other healthcare providers you see that you are pregnant, so that they can help you make informed decisions about your care.

If you’re taking prescription medications for asthma, high blood pressure, depression or other chronic conditions, talk to your doctors about how to manage your medications and your health, as well as that of your developing baby.

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.