Safe Pregnancy Exercise

Regular pregnancy exercise is recommended for all women who are expecting a baby. What is different is the kind of exercise and the level of that exercise. If you exercised regularly prior to expecting, and are already in good shape, then you only need to maintain it. Check with your medical provider that the kind of exercise program you follow is safe for the baby and continue it as long as possible.

If you take part in exercise regimes that are strenuous and involve stressing your body, such as weight lifting, the advice you receive from your medical provider may be to cut back on this, especially during the first and third trimesters. A qualified fitness trainer may be able to also advice as to how to modify your usual workout so that your medical provider will approve it.

Women who did not have a regular exercise program before pregnancy need to find some form of safe exercise so that they can get their bodies prepared for the birth of the baby. Exercise activities which strengthen muscles, such as those in the back and stomach will help to both support the baby, and also reduce back pain once the baby begins to grow and gain in weight.

Exercise should include both relaxation exercises and also stretching. Stretching can help to ease the pains that come with carrying the extra weight on your body, and the relaxation exercises will be invaluable when it comes to labor. Yoga is one exercise program which will give you an edge on labor, especially if you can master the breathing techniques. Swimming is also a perfect form of exercise.

When expecting, it's important that the body is kept at a good level of fitness, but it's equally important not to undertake exercise to an extreme as this can also be dangerous. Take advice from the experts, but also listen to your body and stop when you feel that your body has reached its limits - even if this is at a much lower level than you usually exercise.

Also read our article about Pregnancy Calculator