Pregnant Women Exercise More Regularly Than Non-Pregnant Counterparts

Pregnant women are fitter and take more regular exercise than those not expecting a baby, finds a new survey. This is because expecting moms want to give the best possible start to their unborn child, to relax and to get fit for the birth.

Around a third of the women questioned for the study admitted never exercising before getting pregnant, the Daily Mail reported.

The survey was commissioned by Mumsnet for the Baby Show at Earls Court in London later this month found that swimming is the most popular exercise, with 60 per cent taking to the pool while pregnant, followed by walking and yoga.

However, almost a quarter said they continued to enjoy high-impact workouts at the gym, exercise classes or jogging when expecting.

Most said they worked out for around two hours a week - an hour more than the UK female average - but 15 per cent said they exercised for up to 5.5 hours a week to stay in shape.

"Pregnancy is all about changing your habits to be as healthy as possible," said Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts.

Around 44 per cent said they continued to do something to keep fit until they gave birth, with more than a third of those who did stop before they reached full term quitting due to tiredness.

Around 28 per cent of the women surveyed said the well being of their unborn baby was behind their desire to stay fit, followed by exercising to relax and getting fit in time for the birth.

And, it seems, the desire to be fit and healthy doesn't end once the child has arrived.

An impressive 70 per cent of women admitted going back to the gym to shed their baby weight in the months after the birth.

Source: ANI