Many moms-to-be avoid exercising, not wanting to add any more stress than necessary to the delicate ecosystem that is a pregnant body, however, both you and your baby can benefit from the right kind of bodily stress – prenatal exercise.

Some of the benefits of Prenatal Exercise

Exercising routinely during your pregnancy can have a plethora of health benefits including:

• lower risk of experiencing delivery complications
• It can help you catch more zzz’s
• Help regulate the bowels (which are often on the fritz during pregnancy)
• Give you more energy, helping you avoid fatigue
• It reduces the risk of preeclampsia
• It can strengthen your muscles which may help with delivery
• May also help reduce back and pelvic pain associated with pregnancy

5 Cautions For Safe Pregnancy Workouts

1. Check in with your Doc – mild to moderate prenatal exercise is perfectly healthy for most moms-to-be, however if you fall into a high risk category or have pre-existing health conditions, you may not be a candidate for certain types of exercise. It is important to talk to your doctor so he or she can assess you and give approval before you begin an exercise regimen.
2. Listen to your body – don’t push yourself past the point of aching or exhaustion while you’re expecting. This may seem like common sense, but sometimes when we are ‘in the zone’, it is easy to forget to bring things down a notch. If you feel any sensations or symptoms that are out of the ordinary such as pelvic pain or cramping, stop what you are doing and get medical attention right away.
3. Go easy – It is important to ease into activity while pregnant. Be sure to start with a gentle warm up and slowly turn it up. You may have been able to sprint like an Olympian and lift a small elephant before becoming pregnant, but your high intensity workouts will need to make way for gentler types of exercise during pregnancy. You don’t want to put too much strain on yours or the baby’s body while working out, so it is important to modify whatever workout you are choosing to suit your new body as to not put your pregnancy at risk.
4. Avoid lying flat – Try to avoid activities or poses where you lie directly on your back on the floor, as that can put too much pressure on your back, as well as reduce blood flow to the baby.
5. Stay cool and hydrated – while it is never a good idea to neglect h2o during your workout or risk overheating, both dehydration and overheating can be especially detrimental during pregnancy. Both can lead to serious prenatal complications such as birth defects, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid exercising in the sun, spending time in a sauna or working out too hard.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the best types of exercise to do while pregnant. Thanks for visiting DocChat!