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What activities should I avoid during pregnancy?

If you are enjoying a normal, healthy pregnancy, its a good idea to carry on doing some exercise, providing you are not undertaking a strenuous new regime.

But you should check with your GP or midwife that exercising will not pose any risk for your specific medical situation.

However, there are certain activities that are not recommended for pregnant women. These include anything at high altitude, as the change in oxygen levels may trigger premature labour.

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You should not do activities where there is a risk of hard falls, or where you might be thrown off balance, such as horse riding, gymnastics, or water skiing. You should also avoid particularly strenuous activities, or those that involve a decrease in your oxygen levels, such as hiking, diving, or alpine skiing.

In addition, giving up cycling is usually recommended after the second trimester of pregnancy (after 26 weeks), due to the risk of falls. However, you can use an exercise bike for as long as you like. Extreme sports, such as hang-gliding, skydiving, and bungee jumping may pose a health risk to you and your baby.

Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

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