12:54 PM CST on Thursday, November 10, 2005

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A Saint Louis University study finds that pregnant women are not exercising enough, and that doctors should do more to encourage them to keep fit.

Study author Terry Leet says the message is not getting out that women should continue to exercise during pregnancy, at least at moderate intensity.

Leet says only one of every six pregnant women is meeting the current physical activity recommendation of 30 or more minutes of moderate physical activity each day.

The research was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise.

Brisk walking for 30 or more minutes at least five days a week is considered moderate exercise and meets the current physical activity recommendation for pregnant and non-pregnant women.