Pregnancy & Baby Index: Pregnancy - Health and Wellness: How does your center of gravity change during pregnancy?

How does your center of gravity change during pregnancy?

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While you are pregnant you may notice your balance is a little off. It is something you need to be aware of to prevent accidents. Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, tells us how to accommodate for this change while we are working out.

Your question
How does your center of gravity change during pregnancy, and when you exercise, how should you accommodate it?

The expert answers
Your center of gravity shifts upward during pregnancy, increasing your risk of tripping or mis-stepping. To accommodate your changing center of gravity while you workout, just slow down your movements a bit and avoid any quick changes in direction. If you like to walk or run for exercise, be sure that your path is smooth and even so that you don't trip on a crack or pothole. Once your pregnancy progresses to the point where you can no longer see your feet, be extra careful to avoid stepping on any stray objects.

All that said, if you continue to be active throughout your pregnancy, you'll probably find that your shifting center of gravity affects you very little since it's a gradual shift over several weeks. The fact that you're aware of it now will probably help you avoid any pitfalls later!