The Main Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy

It's fair to say that most women are not keen on exercise during pregnancy, more so if they're not regular visitors to the gym before becoming pregnant. That said, you'll read and hear a lot about exercise during pregnancy and how beneficial it is, even if it is just a small amount everyday.

Before beginning your exercise during pregnancy regime, it is very good advice to speak with a medical doctor beforehand. If you're already fit and healthy, maintaining the same level of exercise for the first trimester or so is probably ok, however if you're not used to any strenuous activities, suddenly embarking on a full scale health and fitness campaign is probably not the brightest idea.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at the main benefits of exercise during pregnancy:

• Regular exercise releases a natural chemical called endorphins, these are like magic beans and help you to feel better. During the first trimester, it is quite possible that you will experience feelings of fatigue, regular exercise will help you to combat this and enable you to regain some control over your body.
  
  
• One of the main physical benefits of exercise during pregnancy is that it will help you to improve your posture, this is critical to both yours and your baby's comfort during the later stages of pregnancy, it will also help to reduce the number of daily aches and pains attributed to poor posture.
  
  
• Strengthens and tones the muscles in your rump, back and thighs, which is proved to aid labor and delivery.
  
  
• Exercise during pregnancy can help prepare you for labor and delivery by simulating breathing and positioning. It will also enable you a much higher pain threshold.
  
  
• Finally, many women have suggested that exercise during pregnancy has meant that they were able to go back to their pre pregnancy weight a lot quicker than their peers.

Not all exercise during pregnancy is good though

Before you run off and join the local triathlon club, you should always remember that the objective of exercise during pregnancy is to ensure that you and baby are in tip top shape both mentally and physically. Being fit will give you a greater chance of having an easier birth and ensure that you have some energy in reserve during the crucial last months of the third trimester. There is also some exercises that will do more harm than good, we've listed these below:

• Do not take part in strenuous weight training type exercises. You should also stay away from exercises that put undue pressure on your stomach, such as sit ups.
  
  
• Any exercises where there is an increased risk of falling over, such as aerobics, climbing and jumping on a trampoline.
  
  
• Try to make sure that any exercise during pregnancy means that your feet are on the ground at all times, also try to avoid sharp terms that mean the torso is being stretched.

If in doubt about whether you should exercise during pregnancy, seek medical advice before starting. There are also a number of specific clubs that cater for pregnant women by offering yoga or swimming classes.

Read more of our articles on exercise during pregnancy

Why Exercising During Pregnancy Is Essential
Preparing Yourself for the Journey With Exercise During Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Exercise
Exercise for Pregnant Women
Exercise for Pregnant Women Part 2
Exercising While Pregnant