Pregnancy Exercises
Although you may not have a lot of energy while you are pregnant, exercise during pregnancy can be very beneficial. If you are an experienced exerciser you can continue to do many of the same types of exercises during pregnancy as you did before you became pregnant, although there are a few types of exercises that are no longer safe, especially after your first trimester. Those new to exercising can start during pregnancy as long as they take things slowly. Most pregnant women can safely exercise, however you should check with your doctor first because certain health conditions during pregnancy can make it so that it isn't safe for you to exercise.
Exercising can help you to control your pregnancy weight gain. Although you do need to gain a certain amount of weight, between 25 and 30 pounds for most women, gaining more weight than this is very common and can increase your risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Besides, if you gain extra weight during pregnancy you have more to lose afterward, which can be difficult to do while trying to take care of a new baby.
Exercising during pregnancy also keeps you fit and strengthens your muscles so you have an easier birth and recovery. It may also help keep you from developing gestational diabetes. Fitness during pregnancy can also improve your mood and give you more energy, and help you feel good about yourself.
Pregnancy exercises that are recommended include cardiovascular or aerobic exercises including walking and swimming. You can also dance or run or do other types of exercises that don't have a lot of risk for falling. You don't want to participate in any contact sports or do anything involving a lot of jumping. Just be sure to drink a lot of water to keep hydrated, and avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day since you don't want to get overheated. Rest if you feel tired, and stop if you start to feel dizzy or faint.
Your pregnancy exercises should also include strength training exercises. You don't have to lift a lot of weight, just do more repetitions to tire out your muscles so you build up your strength. Avoid exercises that require you to lay on your back after your first trimester, as this is no longer safe, it can lower the amount of oxygen that gets to your baby.
Gentle pregnancy exercises like yoga and stretching can also be helpful. Just be sure that you don't push yourself and try to stretch too far, such your ligaments are looser and it is easy to accidentally stretch too far and hurt yourself.
As long as your doctor okays it, pregnancy exercises are a great idea. They not only help you to look and feel better during your pregnancy, but they make giving birth easier and recovering and getting your pre-pregnancy body back easier as well. If you are not sure what is safe, your doctor can tell you, or you can take exercise classes designed specifically for pregnant women.