Nutrition during pregnancy Latvia eng

4.2  

Physical  activity  

Regular,   adequate   physical   activity   is   required   to   maintain   a   good   energy   balance,   ensure  

normal  body  weight  and  for  a  number  of  other  health  benefits.  Physical  activity  is  considered  to  

be   any   body   movement   performed   by   the   skeletomuscular   system,   including   walking,  

housework,  physical  work  and  sports.  Individuals  should  practise  physical  activities  throughout  

their  lives,  as  a  sedentary  lifestyle  is  a  risk  factors  for  disease,  including  NCDs  and  obesity,  and  

premature  mortality.  Pregnant  women  should  engage  in  physical  exercise  of  average  intensity  

without  building  up  endurance  and  power.  The  intensity  of  exercise  should  be  such  as  to  allow  

women  to  talk  freely  during  a  session.    

Physical  activities  during  pregnancy  improve  the  health  of  the  expectant  mother  and  the  child:  

they  reduce  the  risks  for  gestational  diabetes  and  pre-­‐eclampsia,  help  to  control  weight  gain  

and   promote   psycho-­‐emotional   health.   Expectant   mothers   should   be   active   every   day,   with  

both   routine   activities   and   physical   exercise,   as   long   as   there   is   no   medical   contraindication.  

They   should,   however,   avoid   adopting   unfamiliar   types   of   physical   activity.   Sports   that   could  

result   in   trauma   or   falls   (team   games,   combat   sports,   diving,   jumping)   are   discouraged.   It   is  

advisable   to   engage   in   sports   involving   diverse   muscle   groups,   e.g.   cycling,   swimming,   water  

aerobics,   walking   and   trekking,   as   well   as   Nordic   walking.   Regular   outdoor   activities   also  

contribute   to   the   provision   of   adequate   vitamin   D.   Guidance   on   physical   activities   during  

pregnancy  will  be  developed  in  2017.  The  material  currently  available  is  “Writing  a  prescription  

for  physical  activities  in  the  family  doctor’s  practice”  by  the  State  Centre  for  Sports  Medicine,  

with   a   separate   section   on   physical   activity   during   pregnancy   (http://www.vsmc.gov.lv/wp-­‐

content/uploads/2015/03/  Portaliem2015VSMC.pdf;  pp.  108–112.).