Pregnancy & Exercise

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

05 Apr 2006 03:00 PM

When you're pregnant, you may not feel like you are up to running a marathon or up stairs. This is understandable, your body is going through a lot of changes and eating up a lot of energy to help your little one develop. However, most women benefit from exercising throughout their pregnancy. Two caveats before we go any further in this: if you have never exercised and you're pregnant, do not start without consulting your physician. It's important that you listen to your body when it comes to exercise and pregnancy.

Also, if you exercised regularly before you became pregnant, chances are you will be able to continue exercising regularly, although you may scale back the intensity. A friend of mine jogged 5 miles a day before she got pregnant and kept up that pace for the first trimester and scaled it back to 3 miles a day for the second trimester and then walked 2 miles a day for the last.

Everyone is different, but you should still discuss any exercise plans with your obstetrician because they will be able to monitor your progress as well as suggest alternatives for you.

When you exercise during pregnancy, there are some great benefits for you and your baby:

• Exercise will help you feel better
• It can boost your sense of control over your body
• It can boost your energy levels
• It can relieve backaches
• It can improve posture through strengthening & toning muscles
• It can reduce constipation
• It can prevent wear on your joints (which loosen during pregnancy)
• It can help you sleep better
• It can help you look better (increasing blood flow to your skin for that healthy glow)
• It can help you prepare for labor and delivery
• It can help you return to your pre-pregnancy figure after birth

If you're contemplating getting pregnant or already pregnant, it's never too late to start a light exercise program. Talk to your doctor and you can reap the benefits of a fit pregnancy

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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