Exercise is a key component to keeping healthy throughout a pregnancy. Exercising while pregnant can have additional benefits during labor and delivery as well. With the permission of her doctor a healthy pregnant woman is able to maintain a light exercise program throughout her pregnancy. The results of such exercise during pregnancy will keep her feeling better both physically and mentally and may help her get back to the weight she was before pregnancy much more quickly.
Exercise Can Sometimes Prevent Aches and Pains
Many women suffer back pain in pregnancy. Light exercise such as walking may help strengthen the muscles of the back and help improve posture as well. Both of these benefits may help lessen pregnancy related back pain or even eliminate it altogether.
Exercise Helps Prevent Constipation
Constipation is often a side effect of pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association recommends at least 20-30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week to help get bowels moving more efficiently. Women who are having problems with constipation during pregnancy should increase both their fluid and fiber intakes.
Keep Weight in Check
With all pregnancies comes a needed weight gain in order for baby and mom to stay healthy. Depending on a woman's pre-pregnancy size this gain should be anywhere between 15-30 pounds. Many women find themselves going above and beyond this recommended gain. Exercising regularly helps keeps weight gain from climbing excessively even if the mother-to-be is eating a little more than she needs to be.
Easier Labor and Delivery
Labor and delivery are physically exhausting activities. The better shape a mother is in the easier labor will be. Mothers who exercise in their pregnancy have more stamina, endurance and sometimes shorter labors. Breathing exercises used when exercising can also be applied to labor and help keep a mother more calm and comfortable.
Increased Energy
Women who exercise in pregnancy tend to sleep better. This combined with the natural energy that is a result of being physically fit will allow women to experience fewer feelings of tiredness throughout the day,
An added benefit of exercise in pregnancy is a mother who is in better shape after the baby is born and this will make getting back to pre-pregnancy size easier and faster. Mothers will also feel better about their expanding size during pregnancy if they are physically fit.
Exercise in pregnancy will help a mom feel better about herself physically and should be done by every pregnant woman as long as her doctor allows.
