by Gabrielle Hildebrandt

Created on: August 11, 2009

The benefits of exercise during pregnancy

We all know the importance of participating in regular exercise, but now that you're pregnant there are some additional benefits you may not be aware of. Not too many years ago, women were told it was unsafe to exercise during pregnancy. During that time, women were also told to gain a certain number of pounds despite their pre-pregnancy weight. Times have changed, and now exercise during pregnancy is not only considered safe, it is encouraged.

Not all exercise positions are considered safe during pregnancy. It is important to find out from your doctor whether it is safe for you to begin a pregnancy regimen. For women with high-risk pregnancies, or for some other reason, a doctor may determine that a low activity level is safest for the pregnancy. Back exercises, especially after the first trimester, are unsafe. You can easily find out what exercises are safe and how to set up an exercise plan from books, magazines, websites, and exercise videos especially designed for during pregnancy.

Exercise during pregnancy, just like at any other time, helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and toned muscles. It helps you feel better physically and emotionally, and it helps reduce back pain and other aches from pregnancy. It also helps you look better with a healthy glow from the increased blood flow to the surface of the skin. Another huge perk is that women who exercise during pregnancy find it faster and easier to bounce back to their pre-pregnancy bodies. Exercise helps a woman gain better control over her weight gain during pregnancy, and it helps prevent gestational diabetes.

Exercise helps women's bodies to prepare during labor. Women who exercise during their pregnancy report having faster, easier labors with less pain than women who don't exercise.

Women who exercise during pregnancy have healthier babies. When a woman is exercising, her respiration and heart rate increases. This is also true for the baby. Not only are you exercising your own heart and lungs, but you are exercising your baby's as well. It also boosts overall fetal development.

You may be thinking since you didn't exercise before pregnancy, now is not the time to start. That is false. It is never too late to start working out; you just have to make sure that you take it at your own level. Do not push yourself beyond your limits. You don't have to worry about your heart rate going over 130 beats per minute (a common myth). If you don't know where to start, I suggest trying Fusion Pilates four DVD pregnancy series. It includes a pre-pregnancy (or after you recover post-pregnancy) workout, a workout for during pregnancy, a workout for post-pregnancy and c-section recovery, and an exercise with baby workout.

Remember that while you are pregnant, not only are you working out for yourself, you're working out for your baby. Happy jogging!

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