For most women with an uncomplicated pregnancy, yes. Aerobic exercise and strength training are considered safe and are recommended throughout pregnancy. Exercise may need to be modified as pregnancy progresses, and certain medical or pregnancy complications require additional assessment before continuing.

The aim is not to treat pregnancy as a reason to stop exercising, but to adapt your training around the changes occurring in your body.

This is an understandable concern, but research in uncomplicated pregnancies is reassuring. Regular exercise has not been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery or low birth weight when there are no contraindications to exercise.

Exercise during pregnancy is also associated with maternal benefits including a lower risk of gestational diabetes, excessive gestational weight gain and hypertensive disorders.

Yes. Resistance training can form part of a healthy pregnancy, particularly if you were already strength training beforehand. There isn't one specific weight or percentage that is appropriate for every pregnant woman.

Your training should instead consider your previous experience, exercise technique, exercise selection, symptoms, stage of pregnancy and how you respond to different exercises and loads over time. As pregnancy progresses, loads, exercises, positions and training volume may need to be adjusted.

There is no single heart-rate ceiling that applies to every pregnant woman. Pregnancy alters resting and exercising cardiovascular responses, which means heart rate alone is not always the best way to prescribe exercise intensity.

We can instead use measures such as perceived exertion, the talk test, symptoms and your individual exercise history to help determine an appropriate intensity.

Some activities should be avoided or modified during pregnancy. These include activities with a high risk of falling, collision or abdominal trauma, scuba diving, exercising in excessive heat and certain activities involving prolonged lying flat on your back later in pregnancy.

This doesn't mean that your entire exercise program needs to change immediately. Modifications can be introduced progressively as your pregnancy and individual needs change.

Yes. Pregnancy does not mean you have missed your opportunity to start exercising.

Women who were previously inactive can generally begin exercise during an uncomplicated pregnancy, but training should start gradually and progress according to fitness, symptoms and individual circumstances.

You don't need to suddenly become an athlete. The goal is to establish an appropriate starting point and progressively build your physical activity from there.