- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical editor-in-chief, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for MayoClinic.com to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a consultant and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education for Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs before taking this leadership role. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this Web site. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
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Question
Exercise during pregnancy: Is heart rate a concern?
I exercise frequently and also teach water aerobics. Now that I'm pregnant, I've been told that I shouldn't let my heart rate go over 140 beats per minute (bpm). What happens to me or my baby if my heart rate exceeds 140 bpm?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
If you exercised regularly before your pregnancy, you shouldn't be too concerned about exercise during pregnancy.
In 1983, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) originally set a guideline of no more than 140 beats per minute during exercise as a recommendation for most pregnant women. This was based on limited research that suggested higher heart rates during pregnancy may slow the growth of your baby in the womb. But further research found this only occurred in women who exercised too much and didn't consume enough calories. So exercise alone wasn't the primary problem.
ACOG now recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day for pregnant women, but doesn't make a heart rate recommendation. Doctors now recognize that every woman has a different fitness level and no recommendation could account for those differences.
When you exercise, ACOG recommends that you should be able to carry on a conversation comfortably during your workout. If you're already physically fit, you may be able to make only a few changes to your workout to accommodate your pregnancy. You should talk to your doctor before continuing your current exercise routine.
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