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Exercise during pregnancy: Keeping You Fit Written by: Lily Morrison |
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Nurturing and carrying a baby inside your womb for nine whole months is not an easy task, and as many mothers will tell you, you need to be physically fit and in good shape to prepare your body for the rigors of labor and delivery.
Exercising during pregnancy not only helps you to prepare for childbirth and delivery, but it can help you to regain yourself faster, too. However, you should consult your doctor when you go for regular exercise during pregnancy. You cannot do anything you used to do before you because pregnant because instead of doing you good, it may instead be detrimental for you and your baby.
Before you engage in any form of exercise, make sure you are eating a healthy diet and have increased your daily caloric intake by about 300-500 calories. You burn calories during exercise so be sure the calories you burn will be compensated.
However, exercise during pregnancy is not advisable for all pregnant women. Women who have fragile health should not engage in any form of exercise, so if you belong to the women who may be suffering from lung or heart diseases, prone to bleeding, preterm labor, preeclampsia, or are pregnant with twins or multiples, exercise is not for you.
If you are one if the hyper-active women prior to pregnancy, you should alter your lifestyle and refrain from strenuous and dangerous activities like horseback riding, mountain climbing, rappelling, water sports and others. During pregnancy, you could opt for the safe activities like walking, swimming, stationary biking, prenatal yoga, and other activities that are designed for exercise during pregnancy. All the exercises you do should be kept at a low intensity, just enough to maintain your fitness level and help strengthen the muscles of your body.
Exercising during pregnancy requires extreme care for your part. You should remember that you are carrying another life in your womb and your safety is most important. When you exercise, you should drink lots of fluids. It is important not to be dehydrated. You should also wear cool, layered clothing to be comfortable. Exercise for a pregnant woman like you is not getting ready for world competition, so don’t push yourself beyond your limit.
When you are exercising during pregnancy, listen to your body because it might be sending you distress signals that may result to complications if you do not pay attention to it.
Here are some signs that send out signals and needs the immediate attention of your doctor: nausea, fainting, extreme pain, changes in body temperature, heart palpitations accompanied by dizziness, headaches or blurred vision, swelling in lower legs, vaginal bleeding or fluid, or any other symptom that is not normally felt. In cases like this, you should stop exercising immediately and not waste a single minute to call your doctor. Any of these signs are hazardous and could mean serious complications both for you and your baby.
Exercising during pregnancy is important but you should not overdo things. Opt for some form of exercising that is relaxing and something you enjoy, like prenatal yoga, swimming or other light activities. |
