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Pregnancy Exercise Glossary of Terms

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aerobic
Activities using oxygen. To be aerobic an activity must be performed continuously, using large muscle groups. Walking is an example of an aerobic activity.

anaerobic
Activities that do not require oxygen. Anaerobic activities are generally very short (10 seconds-2 minutes) and do not require the body to transport oxygen to the working cells. An example of an anaerobic activity is the 50-yard dash.

anemia
A decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Since these components of the blood carry oxygen throughout the body, a woman who is anemic may feel constantly tired and lethargic.

blood pressure
The pressure in the blood vessels throughout the body. Blood pressure is usually measured in the arm. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or less. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 or above is considered too high. Blood pressure can rise rapidly during pregnancy, resulting in toxemia or preeclampsia.

Braxton-Hicks contractions
These are the contactions resulting from normal tightening of the uterine muscle during pregnancy. These contractions generally become stronger near the end of the pregnancy, but they are not labor contractions. They are sometimes referred to as practice contractions.

core body temperature
The temperature at the center of the body. It is recommended that pregnant women not elevate core body temperature above 100.4 degrees. Prolonged elevation of the body temperature, particularly during the early weeks of pregnancy, has been associated with some types of birth defects.

diastasis recti
A separation at the midline of the muscles covering the uterus. This mainly affects the rectus abdominus and can occur during pregnancy or delivery. If diastasis recti occurs, corrective exercises need to be performed to prevent further muscle trauma.

dilation
The gradual opening of the cervix. This occurs during labor and in some women, the cervix begins opening prior to labor. The cervix is fully dilated at 10 centimeters.

effacement
The thinning of the cervix that occurs to permit the birth of the baby. Effacement can begin during or prior to labor. The cervix is fully thinned when it reaches 100% effacement.

functional capacity
The amount of air normally exhanged by the lungs in each breath.

hyperventilation
An increased respiratory rate resulting from too rapid breathing and delpeted carbon dioxide levels. Hyperventilation is often treated by having the person breath into a paper bag.

inferior vena cava
The major blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the lower body. When the uterus becomes enlarged, this blood vessel can become compressed from the uterus pressing on it while in a back-lying position. In some women this results in dizziness, nausea, or a feeling of breathlessness.

Kegel exercises
The Kegel exercise is the contraction and release of the muscles of the perineum (area from the vagina to the anus), to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

premature labor
Labor that begins too early, usually designated as before the 37th week of gestation.

relaxin
A hormone produced during pregnancy that softens all of the body's ligaments.

repetition
The number of times an exercise is performed without resting.

reserve volume
The amount of air remaining in the lungs after all air possible is breathed out. Some air must remain in the lungs at all times for the lungs to stay inflated.

sacroiliac
The point at which the sacrum (tailbone) and ilium (hip) meet.

set
A set is a group of repetitions. For example, 2 sets of 20 repetitions would mean that an exerciser would do 20 repetitions, rest for 1-3 minutes, then do 20 more repetitions.

trimester
The weeks of pregnancy are broken down into three trimesters. Counting begins from the first day of the last menstrual period. The first trimester is weeks 1-14, the second trimester is weeks 15-27 and the last trimester is weeks 28-40.

varicose veins
A condition occurring when the valves in the veins do not close properly, allowing blood to "back-up" in the blood vessels. This can cause swelling and pain in the affected limbs, usually the lower body.

weight-bearing activities
Activities where the exerciser supports her own body weight or uses weight to increase resistance. Some examples are weight training, walking and jogging. Examples of nonweight-bearing activities are biking and swimming.

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