Physical activity is a critical component of achieving a healthy pregnancy according to a new joint Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) evidence-based pregnancy & physical activity guideline. Following the guideline can reduce the risk of pregnancy-related illness such as depression by at least 25 percent, and the risk of developing gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preeclampsia by 40 percent.

“To develop the recommendations in this guideline, a pan-Canadian consensus panel reviewed over 25,000 studies examining the impact of prenatal exercise on maternal/fetal health outcomes,” says Margie Davenport, guidelines co-lead author and chair, associate professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation. “The evidence demonstrated the health benefits and safety of being physically active throughout pregnancy for both mother and baby.”

Several HALO alumnae (Drs. Veronica Poitras, Casey Gray and Kristi Adamo) were part of the pan-Canadian consensus panel.

Click here to learn more about the guideline.