Are you planning to become pregnant, or have you already reached that happy state?

Should you be doing any exercise, and if so what are the advantages of doing a workout program that is specific to pregnancy?

 

10 reasons why you should workout during your pregnancy

 

1. Your healthy baby starts as soon as you start exercising and keeping your body healthy
2. You can get back to your pre-pregnancy weight quicker! Working out now creates muscle memory for afterward – This is why fit people get their body back quicker!
3. You will have more energy!
4. You will (in general, but not for all) experience a decrease in these pregnancy-related symptoms:
   • Back pain
   • Constipation
   • Fatigue
   • Insomnia
   • Nausea
   • Swelling
   • Urinary incontinence
   • Varicose veins

 

5. Your circulation will improve, meaning you will experience less swelling – which you will be so happy with by your third trimester!
6. You will deposit less fat and limit your weight gain. And as mentioned before, your friends who don’t exercise during pregnancy will have 3x more weight retention when baby is one year old.
7. You will enjoy a quicker postpartum recovery, and usually an easier labour.
8. You will feel better in general and feel better about yourself.
9. Your chances of resuming your pre-pregnancy fitness levels will be twice as good compared with those of non-exercising pregnant women.
10. If you don’t put a program to use, you are more likely to retain some of the baby weight. So if you keep 10 pounds (4.5kg) after each baby, after 3 babies you will have gained at least an extra 13.5kg

That’s a lot of weight to lose in anyone’s book! So, to avoid the heartache and self beating up that women are so good at doing, start a program when you start to plan a baby, and carry it through pregnancy with the necessary modifications. Restart again after birth as soon as your doctor has cleared you for exercise again. Start with basic pelvic floor and core exercises at a low level so you can rebuild from the inside out. If you have had a diastasis recti tear, then modify your program until this has started to heal. Proceed cautiously until you are stronger and will not cause any increased damage to the muscles.

Referenced from: How to Exercise when you’re Expecting

by Lindsay Brin, C.P.T., B.S.E.

 

Always check with your Doctor or Midwife before you start a new exercise program or need some advise on what is best for you and your pregnancy.