Exercising when pregnant If being pregnant has made you reluctant to exercise, fear no more. Exercise has been proven to strengthen the cardiovascular system, improve circulation and your overall condition. You'll find it easier to control your weight gain if you exercise.

This benefit continues after your baby is born, making it easier for you to get back into shape. Walking, jogging, and cycling on an exercise bike are all considered good, safe forms of exercise, as long as you don't overdo them. During the first 4-6 weeks of pregnancy it’s recommended to not raise your core body temperature over 39.4 degrees as theoretically this may cause birth defects.

It is also important to not raise your heart rate above 140 beats per minutes to prevent you getting overheated, there also needs to be enough time between beats to get blood to your baby.