Editing Exercise intensity (section)

== High Intensity Exercise in Pregnancy ==
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly to promote maternal and fetal health.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2024-10-29 |title=Pregnant & Postpartum Activity: An Overview |url=https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/healthy-pregnant-or-postpartum-women.html |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Physical Activity Basics |language=en-us}}</ref> Different parameters for high-intensity exercise have been researched to educate and determine their safety for the mother and fetus.

Studies support that an acute bout of high-intensity exercise in active pregnant women does not lead to fetal distress or adverse effects. Results were also similar in maternal and fetal responses to moderate-intensity and high-intensity training. Both intensity exercises were associated with normal maternal and fetal cerebral blood flow responses. It also showed healthy circulation in the fetus and mother, demonstrating vasodilation and improved placental perfusion.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wowdzia |first1=Jenna B. |last2=Hazell |first2=Tom J. |last3=Berg |first3=Emily R. Vanden |last4=Labrecque |first4=Lawrence |last5=Brassard |first5=Patrice |last6=Davenport |first6=Margie H. |date=2023-09-01 |title=Maternal and Fetal Cardiovascular Responses to Acute High-Intensity Interval and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Exercise During Pregnancy: A Randomized Crossover Trial |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-023-01858-5 |journal=Sports Medicine |language=en |volume=53 |issue=9 |pages=1819–1833 |doi=10.1007/s40279-023-01858-5 |pmid=37213048 |issn=1179-2035|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Current evidence suggests that high-intensity exercises may be well-tolerated by healthy, active pregnant women in their late second and third trimesters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Beetham |first1=Kassia S. |last2=Giles |first2=Courtney |last3=Noetel |first3=Michael |last4=Clifton |first4=Vicki |last5=Jones |first5=Jacqueline C. |last6=Naughton |first6=Geraldine |date=2019-08-07 |title=The effects of vigorous intensity exercise in the third trimester of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=281 |doi=10.1186/s12884-019-2441-1 |doi-access=free |issn=1471-2393 |pmc=6686535 |pmid=31391016}}</ref> The frequency, type, time, and volume of these exercises should be individually tailored to the patient, prescribed, and conducted by medical professionals and exercise specialists. Pregnant women are also advised not to participate in activities that will increase their heart rate to above 90% of their known maximum heart rate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Julie |last2=Pudwell |first2=Jessica |last3=McAuslan |first3=Colin |last4=Barr |first4=Logan |last5=Kehoe |first5=Jessica |last6=Davies |first6=Gregory A. |date=December 2021 |title=Acute fetal response to high-intensity interval training in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/apnm-2020-1086 |journal=Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism |language=en |volume=46 |issue=12 |pages=1552–1558 |doi=10.1139/apnm-2020-1086 |pmid=34433004 |issn=1715-5312|hdl=1807/108271 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>