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Pregnant women should avoid prolonged bouts of exercise in what position?

a) Supine
b) Prone
c) Standing
d) Sitting

User Lakshmaji
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8.6k points

2 Answers

2 votes

Final answer:

Pregnant women should avoid prolonged bouts of exercise in the supine position (lying on their back) due to potential complications related to blood flow.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pregnant women should avoid prolonged bouts of exercise in the supine position (lying on their back).

When a pregnant woman exercises in the supine position, the weight of the uterus can compress a major blood vessel called the inferior vena cava. This can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart and brain, causing dizziness, shortness of breath, and a drop in blood pressure.

Instead, pregnant women should engage in exercises that can be done in a sitting, standing, or side-lying position to ensure proper blood circulation.

User Sotiris Kiritsis
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8.1k points
3 votes

Final answer:

Pregnant women should avoid prolonged exercise in the supine position to prevent potential reduction in blood flow to the mother and baby caused by compression of the inferior vena cava.

The correct option is a) Supine

Step-by-step explanation:

Pregnant women are advised to avoid prolonged bouts of exercise in the supine position, which means lying on their back. This is because after the first trimester, the weight of the developing baby can compress the inferior vena cava, a major vein that returns blood to the heart from the lower body.

This can reduce blood flow, which could be detrimental to both mother and baby, potentially resulting in decreased blood pressure and reduced blood flow to the womb.

User Coolprarun
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7.9k points