Exercise and pregnancy: information for practice nurses

Gordon, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0183-1845 (2019) Exercise and pregnancy: information for practice nurses. Practice Nursing, 30 (8). pp. 379-384. ISSN 0964-9271

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Abstract

It has long been recognised that regular physical activity and exercise enhance both physical and psychological wellbeing. The benefits of physical activity throughout the lifespan of an individual cannot be underestimated and it is no less important when a woman is planning to become pregnant or is pregnant. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2010) note that physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factors for global mortality and is attributed to 6% of deaths globally. This article explores the guidance for physical activity for the general population and how it then relates to the guidance available for women who are pregnant. This article considers some of the key benefits to a range of common physical activities that pregnant women may undertake. It also explores some of the information that practice nurses should be aware of and how physical activity may impact on several long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and obesity.

Key points
• Physical activity at any stage of the lifespan should be encouraged but physical activity in pregnancy is important for a variety of maternal and fetal health benefits
• Practice nurses should be aware of the long-term health benefits of physical activity, be able to discuss these with patients and signpost them to useful resources
• Practice nurses should be aware of any contraindications to physical activity in pregnancy
• Practice nurses play a vital role in the monitoring and surveillance of some life-long health conditions that also affect pregnant women

Item Type: Article
Identifier: 10.12968/pnur.2019.30.8.379
Additional Information: This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Practice Nursing, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/pnur.2019.30.8.379.
Keywords: Pregnancy, exercise, contraindications, asthma, diabetes, obesity
Subjects: Medicine and health > Health promotion and public health > Healthcare education
Medicine and health > Midwifery
Medicine and health > Primary health
Depositing User: Clare Gordon
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2019 15:51
Last Modified: 04 Nov 2024 11:52
URI: https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/6281

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