Pregnancy represents a period of time in which maternal lifestyle factors including physical activity and diet play a substantial role in the health of not just the mother but also the growing foetus. The conservative exercise guidelines produced in the late 20th century were largely based on expert opinion rather than empirical evidence, as it is challenging to perform research investigating safe levels of exercise intensity during gestation. It has been hypothesised that the redistribution of blood flow to working muscles during high intensity exercise may result in foetal hypoxia and restricted growth due to a lack of oxygen and nutrient supply. 

There is a growing body of research supporting the use and safety of aerobic HIIT during pregnancy. Historically, exercising at vigorous intensities and above has been advised against during pregnancy, however these restrictions have been removed from many international guidelines due to emerging research in this area. 

This webinar will provide an updated overview of the current exercise guidelines for pregnancy, and look at the safety and practical implications of prescribing higher intensity exercise during pregnancy. We will cover the cardiovascular changes that occur across pregnancy, as well as the cardiovascular responses to exercise during gestation.