Running During Pregnancy

As a society, we may be at the point where we’re ready move forward in how we view exercise – especially running during pregnancy. There is an antiquated, but at times, persistent view in medicine that “bed rest” is a beneficial treatment, even as we learn that prolonged rest is harmful for many medical conditions including back pain, psychiatric disorders, heart disease and even cancer. Somehow, there is still a lingering notion that rest is best during pregnancy. Both our paternalistic history and the notion that doing something is riskier than doing nothing are at least partially to blame. But it turns out, suggesting to women that exercise during pregnancy may be harmful is actually, in fact, where most of the harm lies.

Pregnancy is an incredibly unique time and a great opportunity to improve the health and well-being of both a woman and a developing baby. Hormones are amazing and powerful tools which are used to help us grow, heal, resist injury and disease and function physiologically. Hormones such