Most patients are encouraged to exercise on a regular basis during their pregnancy. For those individuals who have NOT been exercising on a regular basis prior to pregnancy, gradually working your way up to a regimen of brisk walking for 30 minutes per day is recommended. Swimming is an ideal exercise for pregnant women due to its weightless condition, reduced forces on weight-bearing joints, provides for dissipation of heat, especially in our hot weather! Pregnancy is not the time to begin an aggressive weight training program, but if you have been training with weight prior to conception, it is fine to continue, but with lower weights and higher reps. Avoid any maneuver that would cause you to valsalva or “bear down.” Abdominal “crunches” are not recommended. Working with a trainer familiar with training pregnant women would be very helpful. Other exercises that are recommended in pregnancy are: stationary bike, stairmaster or low impact aerobics specifically designed for pregnancy. You should avoid any type of exercise that you could fall and hit your abdomen such as road bike riding, snow skiing, waterskiing, and jumping on trampoline and horseback riding. Scuba diving is also contraindicated in pregnancy. If you have been a runner prior to conception, it is fine to continue running, but you will probably need to slow your pace down, and ultimately back down on your distance. The best rule to follow regardless of what exercise you choose to do: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY...if it uncomfortable, then “back off”...do not try to push through the discomfort. In addition, it is very important to stay well hydrated and avoid “overheating.”