How Much Activity, and What Kind
Reviewed by CDE Mehandi Sharma · Updated
Being physically active is not an optional extra in GDM. Along with an eating plan, it is the first-line treatment.
The general adult target is at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, which works out to around 30 minutes on most days. Crucially, it does not have to be done in one block — small amounts through the day add up to the same total.
Moderate means you can talk but not sing. In pregnancy, and particularly in the third trimester, that threshold arrives sooner than it used to.
What counts: walking, which is the mainstay and the most useful after meals. Stationary cycling. Swimming, which many women find the most comfortable option late in pregnancy because it takes the weight off. Household activity counts too, more than people credit.
What to avoid without specific advice: anything with a risk of falling or abdominal impact, lying flat on your back for long periods later in pregnancy, and heavy straining.
If you were not active before pregnancy, do not start with 30 minutes. Start with ten minutes after your largest meal, every day, and add from there.
And clear it with your obstetrician first, especially if you have had bleeding, a short cervix, high blood pressure, or a previous preterm birth.