Pregnancy may be a great excuse to gain some healthy baby weight, but in reality, a gentle, appropriate exercise regimen throughout your pregnancy will make birth and postpartum healing go more smoothly. Exercise boosts mood, helps with sleep, and builds stamina, a must when getting ready for the work of labor and childbirth. The American College of Obstetrics and Pediatrics recommends 30 minutes of daily exercise throughout pregnancy. If you are already active, you can continue your exercise plan until your doctor feels it is time for modifications, but if you are looking to get started there are several types of exercises for pregnancy that are excellent. As with any new exercise regimen, talk to your doctor before beginning.
Exercises for pregnancy should focus on strength, flexibility, and balance, and there are a number of ways to get there.
One of the best ways to achieve these three things all at once, with the added benefit of a cardiovascular workout, is swimming. Swimming exercises all large muscle groups and lends a feeling of weightlessness at a time when that might feel welcome. A workout in the pool can be done at a slow pace with flotation devices, so you can feel supported.
Another excellent type of exercise during pregnancy is simply walking. This can be done throughout your entire pregnancy. It does not require any special equipment and is easy on knees, hips, and ankles. Walking has the added benefit of being highly portable, and the stress relief of being outside is worth the price of a supportive pair of walking shoes!
In addition to walking and swimming, prenatal yoga is an excellent way to prepare both body and mind for childbirth.
This type of yoga is gentle and focuses on opening the hips, strengthening the body overall, and relaxing the mind. This can be started with a class (many community centers and workout facilities offer a series of prenatal classes) and then continued in your home, all the way up until (and during!) the day you deliver.
Weight training works well for pregnant women, but only if you are weight training prior to pregnancy. Lifting weights builds stamina and conditions the body for hard work, but the amount of weight may need to be reduced as your pregnancy progresses. If you are working with a trainer, make sure they are aware of your pregnancy, and do switch trainers if yours does not feel qualified to work with you during pregnancy.
Tell us: If you worked out during pregnancy, what was your routine?
Image by Thomas Pompernigg via Flickr
The post Best Exercises For Pregnancy appeared first on Pain Doctor.