Monitoring Heart Rate During Pregnancy
from Polar USA
Heart Rate
Monitoring Makes Exercise Safer and More Effective During
Pregnancy
WOODBURY, NY – A healthy lifestyle that
includes both proper diet and exercise is essential during pregnancy. But
before jumping on the treadmill, a pregnant woman should slow down, carefully
evaluate her exercise routine, and most importantly, listen to her heart.
Because a pregnant woman's fitness regimen
must be altered to fit the changes in her body, monitoring her heart rate
during exercise is essential for both her and her unborn child. Polar, the
leader in heart rate monitoring, provides a simple and accurate way to observe
and regulate heart rate during exercise.
“While you're pregnant, it's important
to maintain a regular program of prenatal care and keep your obstetrician
informed about the type and amount of exercise you perform,” says Dr.
Edmund R. Burke, Director of the Exercise Science Program at the University of
Colorado and author of Precision Heart Rate Training. “Using a heart rate
monitor to track the results of your adjusted pregnancy workout will keep both
you and you're baby safe, while at the same time help manage maternal weight
gain throughout your pregnancy.”
“One of the keys is whether a woman
exercised before her pregnancy,” says Burke. “If she exercised at 70
percent of her maximum heart rate (age subtracted from 220 times .70) before
she became pregnant, she might be able to continue at that rate even if that
number is above the 140 beats per minute (bpm) benchmark that has been
established for pregnancy. Otherwise, she should keep her heart rate below 140
bpm at all times during her pregnancy. The Polar monitor will help her follow
her doctors recommendation.”
The Polar heart rate monitor also uses a
weak radio signal to transfer heart rate from belt to watch and therefore is
safe for both mother and child.
In addition, there are important tips every
pregnant woman should know before she continues or alters her exercise regimen:
- Reduce weight-bearing exercise such as
running in favor of nonweight-bearing exercises like swimming and bicycling,
especially as maternal weight increases.
- Avoid impact exercise. Running, jumping,
and intense stretching can lead to dislocations and lower back stress more
readily in a pregnant woman.
- Avoid anaerobic or maximal exercise to
prevent lactate build up. Monitoring heart rate will help prevent this
intensity.
- Pace your workout. Exercise in short
periods so you can keep your body temperature below 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
This helps you prevent fetal hyperthermia (over heating). One sensible approach
is to alternate 15-minute exercise intervals with 3- to 5-minute rest
intervals.
Polar heart rate monitors are the number
one choice among consumers worldwide and are used extensively by exercisers,
athletes, trainers, and coaches. Polar products are also used by medical and
health club facilities, government agencies, and thousands of physical
education programs. |
