They might be known as "man's best friend" but dogs are particularly good companions to pregnant women.

Researchers looked at the activity levels of 11 000 expecting mothers and found that having a dog helped women reach the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day. In fact, pregnant dog owners were 50 percent more likely to reach this recommended amount of exercise.

Said Dr Sandra McCune of Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition told the Daily Mail, "As a low-risk exercise, dog walking can help women who may otherwise find it hard to meet their exercise targets, keep active and fit during pregnancy."

Being overweight while pregnant can pose major health risks for both mother and child with many studies linking mother obesity to child obesity.

Together with a balanced diet, walking your dog every day can be the right step towards a healthy and happy pregnancy.