Pregnancy and Exercise - Learn the Benefits and Safety of Being Active While Pregnant

Pregnancy and exercise can be beneficial to an expecting woman. It can help to control weight and keep your body in shape. It is important that you practice safe methods of pregnancy and exercise to prevent injury or potential health issues. Common types of pregnancy exercise include walking and swimming.

Pregnancy and Exercise Benefits

Weight Control - While it is necessary to gain some weight during pregnancy, exercising can keep you from adding on too many pounds. Of course, this would need to be coupled with a good pregnancy diet to be most effective. It can also decrease stress, another factor that can cause weight gain.

Physical Maintenance - Keep your body strong can be done when uniting pregnancy and exercise. The point of your workouts should not be to strengthen your body, but to keep it healthy. This can mean for a less difficult labor and reduce your risk of needing a Caesarean section.

Safety of Pregnancy and Exercise

As long as you take the proper precautions, pregnancy and exercise can go hand in hand. There are some important safety procedures you should follow in order to make sure you do not injure yourself or put the baby at risk.

Stay Hydrated - Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workouts. Hydration is essential for a pregnant woman, and it is even more important when exercising. If you sweat during your activities, you will lose precious fluids that must be replenished immediately to avoid problems.

Check your Pulse - Learning to locate and monitor your pulse is important when coupling pregnancy and exercise. When I was pregnant, I made sure to always wear a watch. I would check my pulse every 8-10 minutes. When exercising, your pulse should only increase 10-20 beats above your resting heart rate. Anything more, and you put yourself and your baby at risk for problems.

Don't Push Yourself - When pregnant, it is important to listen to your body when exercising. You should not take on a rigorous workout that makes you unable to breathe or talk well. All that is necessary is a slightly elevated heart rate. You should know to stop exercising the moment it becomes too much for your body. Pregnancy and exercise work well together, so long as you do not try to push yourself too hard.

Types of Exercises for Pregnant Women

Walking - Walking a proper exercise for pregnant women. It is not too strenuous, and it works the lower part of the body. Carrying small weights while walking can help work the upper body as well.

Swimming - Swimming was my favorite exercise when pregnant. It is a great way to get a full body workout while staying cool enough to not break a sweat. Sunscreen should be worn when swimming outdoors.

Exercising while pregnant comes with a number of benefits. It is important, however, that you only incorporate safe exercises that are okay for a pregnant woman to do. Try to work out at least 3 times a week, for no more than 20-25 minutes each session.