Life is about exercise, and exercise can promote human health. Although it is very hard for the mother-to-be to enter the pregnancy period, the nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy makes the mother-to-be weak, and the growing abdomen makes the mother-to-be difficult to move, but the mother-to-be should still properly and correctly adhere to exercise, which is not only beneficial to her own health, but also beneficial to the future delivery and the newborn. The pros and cons of exercise during pregnancy The pros As part of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy should be encouraged and advocated. Exercise during pregnancy can improve constipation by promoting gastrointestinal motility, improve common symptoms such as edema, rapid body mass growth and low back pain during pregnancy, and also improve sleep quality. Exercise during pregnancy is good for maintaining the balance of glucose metabolism and fat metabolism in the body. Functional exercise of pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy may shorten the duration of labor, increase the success rate of vaginal delivery, reduce the rate of cesarean section, reduce the incidence of urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery, and promote the recovery of postpartum body shape. In addition, exercise during pregnancy can help improve the mood of pregnant women, increase their self-confidence and satisfaction with their self-performance, and reduce the risk of postpartum depression. If the aerobic exercise during pregnancy is excessive, it may lead to intrauterine growth restriction, induce miscarriage or premature birth, maternal bone and muscle damage and exercise to increase the heart and lung load. Therefore, before exercising, pregnant women should undergo standard obstetric and internal medicine examinations to understand basic cardiac and pulmonary function and energy metabolism. Contraindications to exercise for pregnant women Pregnant women with heart disease, uncontrollable hypertension or thyroid disease, liver disease, multiple miscarriages, multiple pregnancies, premature rupture of membranes or preterm labor are absolutely prohibited from exercising, while those with a history of preterm labor or uterine dysplasia, anemia, excessive obesity, lung disease or twin pregnancies should be extra careful when exercising and pay close attention to the changes in body indicators. The safest form of exercise during pregnancy is one that is consistent with maintaining a reasonable increase in body mass during pregnancy and does not cause fetal distress or uterine contractions. Pregnant women can carry out suitable exercises according to the venue and interest, such as walking, swimming, yoga, aerobics, stair climbing, upper body exercises, etc. Walking can significantly reduce back pain, pregnancy discomfort and stress during pregnancy, and improve the quality of life during pregnancy, and stair climbing can significantly improve the blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, BMI, blood lipids and other test indicators of pregnant women 2 h after pregnancy exercise. The biggest benefit of swimming during pregnancy is that it can reduce edema, regulate body temperature (no increase in body temperature during exercise) and not cause joint strain. Yoga is also a suitable form of exercise during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are bedridden can also do upper body exercises. Body contact sports and sports that are dangerous for pregnant women, such as basketball, jogging, climbing, diving, outdoor cycling, etc., should be avoided because of the risk of abdominal trauma and falls. The intensity of exercise during pregnancy should be mainly low to moderate intensity aerobic exercise, avoid high intensity exercise, even if the previous exercise habits, the intensity of exercise during pregnancy should not exceed that before pregnancy. Duration of exercise during pregnancy Exercise habits vary from person to person, so the choice of the length of exercise during pregnancy should also follow the principle of individualization and gradual progress. For pregnant women who did not exercise before pregnancy, the recommended duration of exercise for the first 3 weeks is 15 min/time, 3 times/week of low-intensity exercise, and then gradually increase to 30 min/time, 4 times/week. For pregnant women with an exercise habit, the recommended duration of exercise is ≥30 min/time, 4 times/week at moderate intensity. The U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week throughout pregnancy for healthy pregnant women with no pre-pregnancy exercise habits. The Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 2-3 sessions of aerobic exercise less than 60 min per week, with exercise between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm as it is less likely to induce uterine contractions. Regardless of the form of exercise used during pregnancy, it should be carried out in three stages: warm-up (5-10 min), formal exercise (20 min) and post-exercise relaxation (5-10 min). Before, after and during exercise, pregnant women should take in enough water to maintain body water balance, wear loose cotton clothing, appropriate size bra and running shoes, exercise in a cool and ventilated environment, avoid high heat and humidity, preferably in a gymnasium or community sports center. Pay attention to monitoring the blood pressure and heart rate of pregnant women during exercise, and perform fetal heart monitoring if necessary to exclude contractions. The axillary body temperature should not exceed 38.3 ℃ after exercise, and attention should be paid to keeping warm when bathing after exercise. For pregnant women with gestational diabetes, it is recommended that they eat before exercise and monitor their blood glucose once before and once after exercise to prevent hypoglycemia. If any of the following symptoms or signs occur, such as vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, persistent pain or fatigue, exertional dyspnea, dizziness, chest pain, headache, lower limb pain or edema, decreased fetal movement, or regular contractions lasting more than 30 minutes after exercise, stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.