Developmental Psychology Project: Exercise Plan for Pregnant Women

This project, prepared by a student for a developmental psychology course, presents an exercise plan designed for both 6-month pregnant and postpartum women. The assignment begins with an introduction that frames the student as a developmental psychologist providing advice. The core of the project is the creation of two daily activity lists, one for the prenatal period (6 months of pregnancy) and another for the postpartum period. Each list includes specific exercises, the number of sets and repetitions, and a recommended time frame. The prenatal list includes activities such as brisk walking, yoga, low-impact aerobics, and pelvic tilts, while the postpartum list features abdominal contractions with deep breathing, walking, and cycling. Crucially, the assignment provides detailed explanations for each exercise, linking them to developmental theory and the positive impact on infant health and development. The explanations highlight how these exercises improve circulation, regulate blood pressure, reduce back pain, assist in delivery, and promote the mother's overall well-being, thereby contributing to the healthy development of the infant. The assignment adheres to APA guidelines and includes a references section. This assignment is available on Desklib, a platform offering past papers and solved assignments for students.

Running head: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: EXERCISE PLAN
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: EXERCISE PLAN
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: EXERCISE PLAN
Memo: An Exercise Recommendation to be followed during the prenatal (6
months) and postpartum period
The following activity guidelines have been formulated with the aim to ensure positive
outcomes in terms of infants’ health and weight, during both the antenatal and postpartum
periods.
Table 1: Prenatal Daily Activity List (6 months of Pregnancy, Source: American
Pregnancy Association, 2019)
Activity/Exercise Number of Sets Number of
Repetitions
Time Frame
Brisk Walking 20 to 25 minutes 3 to 4 times a week Consider avoiding
with approaching due
date due to changes
in center of gravity
Yoga 20 to 25 minutes 3 to 4 times a week Consider avoiding
abdominal positions
and overstretching as
pregnancy
approaches to prevent
injury
Low impact aerobic
jumps, kicks
10 to 15 minutes 1 to 2 times a week Should always be
done under
supervision and
avoided with
approaching due date
Squatting and pelvic
tilts
Hold for 10-30
seconds for each set
10 sets Should be done under
supervision
Table 2: Postpartum Daily Activity List (Source: American Pregnancy Association,
2019)
Activity/Exercise Number of Sets Number of
Repetitions
Time Frame
Abdominal
Contractions with
10 to 30 seconds for
each set
10 Any time after giving
birth

2DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: EXERCISE PLAN
deep breathing
Walking 20 to 25 minutes 3 to 4 times a week After 1 week of
giving birth
Cycling 20 to 25 minutes 3 to 4 times a week After 1 week of
giving birth
Explanation of exercise contributions to Infant Development
Brisk walking improves circulation to the placenta and fetus thus assisting in providing
nourishment to the developing infant and paving the way for giving birth to a healthy baby. Brisk
walking assists in removal of excess fat after pregnancy and thus helps in achieving a health
weight for mother. Aerobics and yoga also helps in improving circulation and blood pressure
regulation which contributes to prevention of eclampsea, or premature delivery and hence birth
of a baby which is healthy (Barakat et al., 2016). Pelvic exercises have been recommended since
they reduce back pain, assist in delivery and prevent injuries to the babe during vaginal birth
which may contribute to congenital defects and development delays in the baby. Lastly,
abdominal exercises and cycling after delivery reduce excess abdominal fat and improve
wellbeing, energy and flexibility thus allowing the mother to spend more time with her infant
(McCurdy et al., 2017).

3DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: EXERCISE PLAN
References
American Pregnancy Association. (2019). Exercise During Pregnancy: Safety, Benefits &
Guidelines. Retrieved 13 December 2019, from
https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/exercise-during-pregnancy/.
Barakat, R., Pelaez, M., Cordero, Y., Perales, M., Lopez, C., Coteron, J., & Mottola, M. F.
(2016). Exercise during pregnancy protects against hypertension and macrosomia:
randomized clinical trial. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 214(5), 649-e1.
McCurdy, A. P., Boulé, N. G., Sivak, A., & Davenport, M. H. (2017). Effects of exercise on
mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms in the postpartum period: a meta-
analysis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 129(6), 1087-1097.