Exercising when pregnant: What can I do that's safe for my baby?

I'm three months pregnant and up 'til now have exercised reasonably regularly. I'd like to continue exercising but I'm unsure what's safe, particularly when my bump gets bigger. What's your advice?

The great thing is that you've been able to carry on with regular exercise throughout your first trimester. This means your options for the rest of pregnancy are much wider than if you hadn't been active until now.

As long as your healthcare practitioners are happy for you to exercise and you remain healthy, then you may carry on with the fitness you've been doing so far.

Be sure to work within the guidelines for pregnancy. A key guideline is that you should exercise at a moderate level to avoid getting too hot and breathless, as overheating can be detrimental to your baby's development.

'Most importantly, listen to your body. Never ignore signs of fatigue, niggles, aches and pains.'

Your bump getting bigger will also shape your exercise choices, so once you're into your second trimester, avoid doing classic abdominal exercises (think sit-ups), and instead incorporate gentle deep abdominal, core stability work that's tailored for pregnancy.

As you approach the middle of pregnancy you may find lying on your back makes you feel dizzy and faint - avoid any exercises in this position.

Most importantly, listen to your body. Never ignore signs of fatigue, niggles, aches and pains. These signs are your body telling you to slow down or stop, so take note and reconsider your exercise regime - it might be time to cross over into pregnancy-specific exercise.

Pregnancy and postnatal fitness expert , author of The Little Book Of Making Your Exercise Safe For PregnancyDr Joanna Helcke