Pregnancy Fitness Tips [Guest Post]

pregnant belly Pregnancy Fitness Tips [Guest Post] Pregnancy fitness by Nicola Sanders
Keeping active during pregnancy is always a good idea. Of course, it will be a different workout to non-pregnant women but there are still many ways to keep fit and not put baby at risk. Exercising during pregnancy helps you to have a healthy pregnancy and means getting the weight off after the birth is going to be a whole lot easier. You don’t need to head down the gym – exercises can be fitted into your daily routine.

What are the benefits of exercise during pregnancy?

It will help you cope with the extra weight of the baby – at the end of your pregnancy you will have gained around 27.6lb. You have to carry this weight everywhere you go so keeping fit will make this easier.

Helps increase energy

Exercise is proven to help not just your mood but also increases energy levels to help get you through the day. Just be careful not to overdo it, if you are working full-time and on the go at work then tailor your exercises to that.

What is the best exercise for a pregnant mum?

Walking is a good exercise to do it gives you a good workout at a level you can manage. It also helps increase circulation.
Swimming is an excellent exercise to think about, it can help ease discomfort of the baby aches. Swimming also strengthens stomach muscles. Make sure if you are not a regular swimmer to take things easy at first. Have a gentle warm up before starting.
Swimming is an also good because swimming makes you feel weightless, taking the strain of the weight of baby off you for a while.

What should you avoid?

You need to avoid all contact sports and all activates that involve height.
Avoid anything that will put strain on joints and hips, difficult yoga positions or jogging on the road.

Recommended exercise

Walking, swimming and general stretching and toning are excellent exercises during pregnancy. Cycling is also good during pregnancy, though in later pregnancy may be better to move to an exercise bike.

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor (also called Kegel exercises) stench the muscles between your legs and run from the public bone to your back.
You feel your pelvic muscles when you stop yourself peeing when at the toilet. To strengthen the muscles try squeezing these muscles 10 to 15 times in a row. Don’t hold your breath or tighten your buttock muscles when doing these exercises. After a month or so you will start to notice a difference. These exercises can improve the sensitivity during sex and incontinence. Keep the exercises up to keep the results.

Nicola is a busy mum looking after two boys. When she has time she writes for a unique baby names site. The site covers more than baby names with information baby health, breastfeeding and pregnancy week by week.