A pregnant woman at 10 weeks of gestation jogs three or four times per week. She is concerned about the effect of exercise on the fetus. The nurse informs her:

Question

1. "You do not need to modify your exercising any time during your pregnancy.".
2. "Stop exercising because it will harm the fetus.".
3. "You may find that you need to modify your exercise to walking later in your pregnancy around the seventh month.".
4. "Jogging is too hard on your joints; switch to walking now.".

Answer 1

3
1. Incorrect. The nurse needs to inform the woman that she may need to decrease her exer-cise level as the pregnancy progresses.
2. Incorrect. Physical activity promotes a feeling of well-being in the pregnant woman. It improves circulation, promotes relaxation and rest, and counteracts boredom.
3. Correct. Typically, it is suggested that running be replaced with walking around the se-venth month of pregnancy.
4. Incorrect. Simple measures should be initiated to prevent injuries, such as warm-up and stretching exercises to prepare the joints for more strenuous exercise.