Final answer:
True, women in their second trimester should avoid lying on their backs while exercising to prevent reduced blood flow. Back strain in late pregnancy is common due to the shift in the center of gravity. Proper nutrition is key, without doubling caloric intake unnecessarily.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, pregnant women in their second trimester should avoid lying on their backs while performing exercises. This is recommended to prevent the risk of supine hypotensive syndrome, a condition where the enlarged uterus presses on the inferior vena cava, reducing blood flow back to the heart and thus to the rest of the body, including the placenta and baby
This can lead to decreased blood pressure and may result in dizziness, shortness of breath, and a decrease in fetal blood supply.
Pregnant women often suffer from back strain late in their pregnancy due to the increasing size of the uterus and the baby, which shifts the center of gravity forward, altering posture and putting additional strain on the back muscles.
To accommodate for proper nutrition without overeating, it is important to understand that a pregnant woman does not need to eat for two and should not double her pre-pregnancy caloric intake; instead, a moderate increase in calorie intake is generally sufficient.