Should you Exercise when Pregnant?

August 09, 2018

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You have perhaps left behind the phase of life where you were desperately researching pregnancy symptoms, ovulation dates, finding a good ovulation calendar, fertility calculator and what not. We know you are excited. Now is the time to forward think and make decisions on how to keep yourself and your growing baby healthy. We already talked about pregnancy nutrition and maternity clothing. Lets jump into another critical discussion: Pregnancy Workouts

Before obstetricians and gynecologists decide which drug can best treat a condition without putting any harmful side effects on the mother and the baby, they consider the patient's age, general health, the number of months before delivery, tolerance for medications, and any other drugs the pregnant patient may be taking. Prescribing prenatal exercises on pregnant women has to be just as scientific and precise. The type, intensity, frequency, and duration of a "dose" of exercise are all critical. One person's healthy, vigorous workout could be hazardous to another. These dangers may be greater in pregnant women because they are more likely to have strains and other serious side effects.

However, if done correctly, exercise will not have an adverse effect on the overall condition of the pregnancy and especially on labor or delivery. Quality prenatal care should be given to a mother during all stages of pregnancy. She should be prepared for the normal delivery of a healthy baby. All of these things boil down to the fact that a pregnant woman should be cared in such a way that she will not be compelled to do vigorous work but should not also stay in bed and be inactive until she gives birth to her baby.

Consequently, a pregnant woman's condition varies in relation to the growth and development of the baby inside her womb. Therefore, it is necessary that proper health guidance be provided by her physician during her visit. Moreover, it is important to keep the pregnant woman's life active in order to promote good health, not only for her but also for the baby inside her.

Physical conditions like blood pressure, weight and health status is usually monitored during a woman's prenatal doctors visits. For this reason, it is significant to note that exercise can be the number one factor in order to keep these aspects in good condition. As the health experts contend, adequate physical and emotional information is needed by a pregnant woman to prepare herself for delivery. She needs practical health messages in keeping herself and the baby healthy. Hence, for mothers or would-be mothers who are not yet aware why they should put some effort in engaging into moderate, normal exercise, here is a list of some of its benefits so they are able to understand the reason regular exercise is recommended:

Defiance against Fatigue

As muscle becomes fatigued, it produces less force. To accomplish a task like climbing the stairs, for example, or shoveling snow, more units of muscle must be called into play to back up the wearied muscles. The tired muscles are both less efficient and less effective. Hence, this will just put more strain on the pregnant woman because of the weight that is continuously adding up each day. That is why tired muscles will usually result to leg cramps or sore muscles.

What every pregnant woman must know is that exercise improves the condition of the muscles and their ability to work longer without fatigue.

Reduce Backaches

Even when you sit or stand, some muscles are working, and such relatively easy postures can tax some muscles and cause fatigue. The muscles of the lower back, for example, can be exhausted and worn out by the effort of keeping erect when a pregnant woman stand still for several hours. With exercise, a pregnant woman can correct this error by developing her posture.

Increase the amount of Oxygen

Work and exercise rely on glycogen, a substance produced by the body from complex carbohydrates and stored muscles and liver. The supply of glycogen in the muscles determines and limits the duration of activity. Exercise depletes the glycogen in the muscles and leads to tiredness. However, when glycogen is depleted by strenuous activity, it is replaced in quantities greater than before, as if the body recognized the need to lay in a larger supply of fuel.

Hence, oxidation is essential for converting glycogen to the energy that pregnant women need to wiggle a finger, flex a muscle, or practice the lungs and heart for some blowing action during normal delivery.

These are just some of the many benefits exercise can bring to pregnant women. Besides, nothing is completely wrong for a pregnant woman doing some moderate exercises. The only important thing to remember is that before starting an exercise program, whether pregnant or not, it is best to consult your doctor. As they say, doctors know best!

Safe exercises when pregnant

You should always chose low impact exercises. We recommend:

Walking
Low impact Aerobics
Swimming
Yoga

Yoga, in particular, is much more supportive in prenatal care because it not only help in keeping a pregnant woman physically fit, but also helps in their mental health. After all, pregnancy is a time every woman should enjoy without the worries and anxieties of labor and delivery. Combined with mindful meditation, yoga will be a very powerful activity for every pregnant woman.

If you don't know much about prenatal yoga, Amazon has some good yoga DVDs you can purchase:

Knocked-Up Fitness Prenatal Yoga Sculpt DVD
At Home with Hilaria Baldwin: Fit Mommy-to-Be Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga & Short Forms

It is equally important that you wear proper clothing for your workouts. Good maternity active wears are crucial for the overall comfort of both mom and baby. If you are looking for good prenatal active wears, have a look at some of our recommendations below. They are available in various colors: