Q – I have heard you are not supposed to get “overheated” when you are pregnant. I’m not sure what this exactly means as I have continued to go to the gym and get quite heated during my workouts. Can you help me with this?

A – This comes from the idea that raising the core body temperature could increase your risk for miscarriage or possible birth defects.  The idea originates from data that indicates an increased risk of miscarriage in women who suffer significant and long lasting fevers particularly in the first half of pregnancy. Going to the gym is actually quite healthy in pregnancy but you should not try to increase your fitness level during pregnancy-just maintain the level you are at.  You may normally be able to run for 20 minutes without difficulty but you might find that during pregnancy you can only run 10 minutes.  Do not push yourself to your usual level, you need to listen to your body and take it easy.

– Dr. Linda Ducholke, a mother of two, has been a successful Family Practitioner with Obstetrical privileges for the past 20 years. The main focus and passion of her practice is obstetrics and childcare.