Khloe Kardashian Responds to Exercising While Pregnant

Any doctor will tell you that staying fit while pregnant is healthy for mom and baby. Being physically active lower your risk of certain complications, as well as reduce time spent in labor. Yet, despite supporting research, some people still feel the need to shame moms-to-be for their workout routines. That happened recently to mama-to-be Khloé Kardashian, who made an important point when she responded to her exercise critics.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians fans know that the younger Kardashian sister loves to exercise. The 33-year-old reality TV star, who’s expecting her first child with her boyfriend, NBA player Tristan Thompson, shares her workouts almost daily to her Snapchat account. So it’s no surprise Kardashian hasn’t slowed down with the squats and bicep curls since confirming her pregnancy on Dec. 20 after months of speculation.

Of course, since mommy-shaming is a thing, Kardashian received an onslaught of criticism on social media earlier this week for continuing to exercise while six months pregnant. But the Good American co-founder didn’t let it get her down; instead, on Tuesday she clapped back at her critics on Twitter, informing them that her workout routines are doctor-approved.

“For the ones who think they are physicians all of a sudden,” Kardashian writes. “MY doctor and I communicate and my workouts are cleared and highly recommended. Thanks kiddos!”

The reality TV star makes an excellent point: Her choice to exercise while pregnant should only concern her and her OB/GYN.

A large body of research has proven the benefits of working out during pregnancy. You lower your risk for gestational diabetes, you’re less likely to experience constipation, you have more energy, you boost your immune system, and you improve blood flow, reducing leg swelling. But those are just some of the positives of prenatal exercise.

Still, not every mom-to-be wants to or can stay physical active during those nine months, which is OK too. You may have physical limitations, experience chronic pain or have a high-risk pregnancy that makes the prenatal exercises too strenuous for you to do. Or you may have a loaded schedule that makes dedicated workout sessions impossible, so you try to get your cardio in any way you can.

Whatever the reason, how you choose to stay physically active during pregnancy should be decided by you with input from your doctor—not by hordes of people who comment on social media. After all, if your physician is fine with your choices, then who else should care?