It is important that during pregnancy women do not start new intensive workouts without starting off very slow and gradually build up endurance. It is typically safe to continue exercises that were done before pregnancy, excluding contact sports. However, modifications to certain exercises may be required. Also, certain conditions may arise which would prevent the ability to exercise during pregnancy. Some contraindications would include persistent vaginal bleeding, pre-eclampsia, and premature labor.
During pregnancy the body goes through several physiological changes that will effect the ability to exercise. Numerous cardiovascular changes include an increased heart rate, increase in stroke volume and cardiac output. Blood volume increases