Water Aerobics During Pregnancy
By Lisa Stone, ACE

Q. I am five months pregnant and have been doing deep water aerobics for almost two years. I was wondering if there any moves I should not be doing? We sometimes do moves where we are floating on our backs and doing sit-ups. I know sit-ups are a no-no on land but does it matter if I'm in the water? I've also heard that I shouldn't do any moves where I am stretching my legs or squatting but this advice conflicts with what I'm doing in my prenatal yoga class. Bottom-line do I have to avoid any specific exercises or can I continue as normal?

A. In the water, just let comfort be your guide. You may reach a point in your pregnancy where some of the exercises become uncomfortable - if that's the case, ask the instructor to show you modifications or alternative exercises. Also, even though you're in water, you can still become overheated and/or dehydrated, so make sure to drink LOTS of water before, during, and after your workouts. If you're in an outdoor pool, be sure to wear sunscreen and a cap or visor because your skin can become more sun-sensitive during pregnancy.