Women's Health Matters: Exercise in Pregnancy

Create Account

Availability

Registration Required

Expires on Feb 09, 2026

Online Meeting

Jan 21, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM CT

Cost

Member: $0.00

Non-Member: Not Eligible

Student/Resident/Fellow: $0.00

Life Member: $0.00

Company: Not Eligible

Exhibitor: Not Eligible

Credit Offered

1 1A AOA; 1 AMA Credit

1 Non-Physician Credit

Exerecise in Pregnancy

CME Credit Available

1 Category 1-A AOA 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

About this Activity

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
5:30 - 6:30 PM Central / 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern / 3:30 - 4:30 PM Pacific

This free CME activity is exclusively available to members of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Pregnancy serves as a vital window to impact long-term health. Physical activity benefits maternal and fetal outcomes. Yet, clinicians often provide vague or overly cautious advice. This hesitation stems from uncertainty regarding safety. Evidence confirms sedentary behavior poses higher risks than moderate exertion. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.

This activity examines the physiology of exercise during gestation, reviewing evidence-based guidelines for uncomplicated pregnancies and distinguishing between absolute and relative contraindications.

Clinicians will learn to tailor prescriptions and compare protocols for previously sedentary patients against those for athletes. The goal is to maximize benefits while minimizing risk. Benefits include glycemic control, weight management, and improved psychological state. Data also shows a reduction in operative vaginal deliveries. This session equips physicians to counsel patients effectively. Evidence-based guidance replaces fear with confidence. The result is a proactive approach to prenatal care.

Learning Objectives

Those participating in this activity will receive information that should allow them to:

✓Distinguish between absolute and relative contraindications to aerobic exercise in pregnant patients using current clinical guidelines.
✓Create individualized physical activity plans requiring modifications for anatomical changes, balance shifts, and joint laxity.
✓Differentiate between normal physiological responses to exertion and specific warning signs necessitating immediate cessation of activity.

Faculty

Sarah McCormick, DO, FACOOG

Sarah McCormick, DO, FACOOG is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Midwest Center for Women's Healthcare in Vernon Hills, Illinois. She is an experienced board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist with a passion for advancing women’s healthcare. She specializes in hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Dr. McCormick has served as the Vice Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Alexius Medical Center and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Quantic School of Business and Technology to further enhance her leadership in healthcare innovation. She earned a Doctorate of Osteopathy from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and completed her residency at McLaren Macomb Regional Medical Center in Michigan. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. McCormick has been providing passionate care to her patients for over 10 years.

Accreditation & Designation

CME Accreditation:
The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit Designation:
The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists designates this program for a maximum of 1 AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ACOG Cognate Credit(s):
The American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists designates this activity for Category 1 College Cognate Credits. Maximum Cognates are equal to the number of maximum AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM . A reciprocity agreement with the AMA exists that allows AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM to be equivalent to ACOG Cognate Credits.

NPs, PAs & CNMs:
The AANPCB, NCCPA, and the American Midwifery Certification Board accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for certification and renewal requirements. ACOOG strongly recommends all non-physician health professionals check with their certification/licensing organizations to confirm credit reciprocity.

Policies

Grievances: Any registrant finding evidence that the continuing medical education program presented is inappropriate with regard to facilities, materials, content, or observes any unacceptable promotion by a commercial interest in the same room as the educational activity, whether by company representative or presenter, may submit a grievance in writing to ACOOG, PO Box 17598, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Unresolved issues regarding this activity will require a formal written complaint to the AOA Division of CME, 142 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611.

Privacy Policy: This activity complies with ACOOG’s privacy policies.

Data Use: Data collected as part of this activity may be analyzed as part of educational research to study the effectiveness of educational interventions on health care, population health, health care providers and others, or to identify additional needs and gaps for future interventions.

Refunds: Refunds are not available for this educational product.

Use of Artificial Intelligence: The closed captions and summaries provided in this content are automatically generated by artificial intelligence (AI). While AI can enhance accessibility and comprehension, it is not infallible and may produce errors. Please keep this in mind as you engage with and apply the content.

Requirements

✓ Register/Participate in webinar
✓ Complete the activity evaluation
✓ Claim credit

A certificate will be available in the ACOOG learning center (under transcripts) when the session is over AND you complete the evaluation.

System Requirements

An internet connected device (computer or mobile device) with high speed access is required. The platform is Zoom. You'll need to install the Zoom Client. JavaScript and cookies should be enabled in your browser in order for the activity to properly work.

Disclosures

Commercial Support:
This activity is not commercially supported.

ACOOG requires each planner and presenter to identify all financial relationships with ineligible companies, and mitigates risk of bias using a series of strategies for relevant relationships. Unless otherwise noted below, the ACOOG, ACOOG staff and planners for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Dr. McCormick has no relevant relationship with an ineligible company to disclose.

Disclaimer

This activity is offered by the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) for educational purposes only. Every patient case is different, and physicians must rely on their medical knowledge, experience, and relationships with patients to make clinical decisions.