Pregnant Running

Training or competing while pregnant does not harm either the foetus or the mother, a recent study claims.

16:37 01 June 2016

Many sportswomen are attracting attention as they continue to train and even compete while they are pregnant. In 2014, a heavily pregnant Alysia Montana competed in the 800m quarterfinals of the US track and field championship. Over the years, at least 17 women have competed at the Olympics pregnant.

 

But the question is, is it safe? A new report commissioned by the International Olympic Committee said that training and competing while pregnant does not harm either the foetus or the mother.

 

Prof Kari Bo from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, said: "There are only a few high-quality studies into pregnancy among elite athletes or those who exercise a great deal, but it seems that many do continue to exercise during pregnancy, and it does not affect them in a negative way," 

 

However, a study released in 1980’s argued that exercising requires the use of the body’s resources including oxygen, nutrients and temperature. So if pregnant women exercised, their foetus may lose out in a battle for resources.

 

"In a way it's correct," says Bo. "But women who are athletic also have very good blood distribution, so it doesn't seem to do any harm to the foetus, and at the same time it's obvious that the placenta is also better nourished when you are exercising, so there's a sort of compensation going on."