Ever wonder if you should you get all 10,000 steps while pregnant? Learn if it’s safe or harmful to you and your baby.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

It’s well documented by now that women who are pregnant and able to exercise should exercise.

While some may be concerned about the safety of pregnancy for the fetus, research on exercising while pregnant has concluded that “with proper attention to risk stratification and surveillance,” workouts are safe.

Furthermore, exercise while pregnant carries benefits including “reduction in Cesarean section rates, appropriate maternal and fetal weight gain, and managing gestational diabetes.”

A Increasingly Popular Approach To Prenatal Fitness

What form the exercise during pregnancy can take still varies, however, and it’s generally a good idea for expecting mothers to consider a range of possibilities.

In this post, we’re going to look specifically at an exercise option that has become a popular recommendation over the years: walking 10,000 steps a day.

This approach is viewed by many as a good way to keep unwanted pounds off and maintain cardiovascular health; it’s also something that’s caught on alongside the rise in smartwatches and fitness trackers that make it easier to count steps in the first place.

But is the 10,000 steps routine a good one for expecting mothers? And what actual benefits does it carry?

Origins of the “10,000 Steps” Approach

When you’re considering a workout that seems to be “trendy,” it’s usually best to look into where it came from. In this case, various sources examining the 10,000 steps target have indicated that it actually derives from a marketing campaign.

Way back in 1965, the Japanese company Yamsa Clock sought to sell its pedometer by naming it “Manpo-kei,” which translates to “10,000 steps meter.” This unfortunately does away with the notion that the concept is rooted purely in exercise science. However, it also tells us that people have been aiming for 10,000 daily steps for far longer than it may seem.

Benefits of 10,000 Steps

Despite the fact that this exercise concept is rooted in a ‘60s marketing campaign, it can actually work wonders for those who stick to it.

Aside from weight loss (a popular goal among those who decide to walk more frequently), the benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day include strengthening the heart, storing less body fat, stabilizing blood sugar, improving mental performance and reinforcing healthy habits.

Essentially, there are comprehensive cardiovascular perks to this degree of regular walking, along with boosts to brain cell growth and the regulation of emotion and memory processing.

Needless to say, this can all be helpful to anyone, including women who are expecting.

The Importance of Consistency

To expand on the benefits just listed, we’ll also note that the consistency of establishing a workout like this can be very helpful.

We’ve explored habits that build consistent workout routines before, and pointed out in the process that new moms can often have a hard time sticking to the plan simply because there’s so much going on.

To some extent, this is unavoidable; your baby will need you when they need you! But there’s something to be said for getting into the swing of a stable, regular exercise routine –– like getting your 10,000 steps –– while pregnant.

With the routine in place, you may just be more likely to keep it up once the baby arrives.

Walking While Pregnant

While most of the points above have to do with the 10,000 steps approach in general, it’s important to acknowledge that pregnant women face different conditions and concerns.

What’s encouraging, however, is that studies on walking while pregnant have indicated that there are clear benefits.

One is that walking is more feasible than some other forms of cardiovascular exercise, particularly in more advanced stages of pregnancy.

Another is that, as alluded to previously, there are health benefits specific to mothers and babies –– such as better avoidance of complications and healthy birth weight.

Ultimately, while pregnant women should speak to their doctors and consider personal circumstances regarding exercise, it’s clear that the benefits of a regular walking routine don’t just carry over into pregnancy, but actually extend to cover specific concerns of expecting mothers.

“10,000 steps” may represent something of a fad, but it is nevertheless a fulfilling and beneficial routine. Sticking to this milestone or something close to it will help pregnant women to maintain cardiovascular health, enjoy a mental boost, and even avoid some common complications.

Thank for visiting my blog, Live Core Strong. For more help information on pregnancy fitness, start with my series of prenatal ab exercises for the first trimester, second trimester and third trimester.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.      

**It is important to always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program and get medical clearance. Always warm up thoroughly and stretch after all workouts. LiveCoreStrong.com and Jena Bradley will be not be responsible or liable for any injury sustained while exercising at home, gym or elsewhere. Perform exercises at your own risk.

Up Next…