Pregnant Moms Exercise Tips

May 23, 2008 by Tammy

Many women enjoy a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a good diet.

It can be tough to maintain that lifestyle when becoming pregnant, especially during the later stages when you have to carry around that extra passenger.

Although it is tough, it is still possible to maintain an exercise program up until the last month of pregnancy, so don’t give up hope, talk with your doctor and figure out how best to manage your pregnancy and program for staying in shape. You’ll need to be in shape for delivery!

Pregnancy brings many changes, some easy to welcome and other bringing uncomfortable surprises. Hormone levels go wild, there is of course the weight gain and in the later months of pregnancy, movement becomes increasingly difficult. Changes in the level of progesterone, estrogen and others produce softening of the ligaments near joints. Strain on internal organs, makes it easy to say that back and leg pains are inevitable. At the same time, you’ll put on roughly 30 lbs. Wow…that’s a tall order for a gal!

Sometimes a general depression can also set in during pregnancy. Regular, appropriate exercise can help relieve much of that and help put your body in the best shape possible for labor. That optimizes your comfort and your growing baby’s health which is the best for both of you.

The first step is to adopt a kind of Hippocratic Oath of Pregnancy: First, Do No Harm;

that ancient principle from the Greeks is still valid, more so during pregnancy. Some women are used to running five miles, doing every station at the weight machine or performing Pilates an hour a day. That will have to change fairly quickly for the best interest of your growing child.

But maintaining a good exercise regimen is still possible, just change your workout to fit your changing body. Eliminate crunches or any other form of exercise that stresses the abdominals or back. Go with lighter weights. Avoid jerky movements and forego squats which can separate the placenta from the uterus.

Breathing correctly during exercises performed while pregnant is extremely essential. By breathing incorrectly the oxygen which the baby receives through the umbilical cord could be altered which could, in turn, harm the baby in the long run.

Keep in mind that your resting heartbeat will increase by about 8 beats per minute during the first few weeks. Blood volume increases substantially as you progress. Factor that in when you consider any cardio exercise.

If you’ve been exercising on a regular basis, then you know what to do and what changes to make. If you have been exercising for a while then simply consult your trainer. They will surely know you can best and most safely increase your exercise program. And if you have never exercised on a regular basis then stick to your Pilates or Yoga tape at home; save the gym for after the baby.

Now is not a good time to start an intense workout program if you have never exercised before. Not a smart move at all!

So is it ok to exercise during pregnancy? Be sure to check with your physician to get the official ok since every pregnancy is different, but with medical approval, you bet that exercise during pregnancy is a great idea to keep you healthy and in better shape for the pregnancy, labor and delivery.