4 Ways To Exercise During Pregnancy

Unless you have health problems or your pregnancy has complications, physical exercise during pregnancy is more than recommended. Consult your doctor and cheer up.

Pregnant! The news is, surely, the best of your life. However, during pregnancy, your life and your body will change and, consequently, your lifestyle. One of the questions of many pregnant women is, can I exercise during pregnancy? And the answer is overwhelming: of course it is!

However, not all types of exercise are recommended during these months. It will depend on your state prior to pregnancy, if you have health problems or pregnancy brings complications. In this article, we will tell you about it.

Exercise and pregnancy

Regular physical exercise is more than recommended during the pregnancy months. In effect, it will help you stay healthy and feel much better. In fact, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends regular physical exercise of 30 minutes a day for pregnant women on virtually every day of the week.

The only exception is the existence of medical or pregnancy complications. Thus, the contraindications are few and logical: do not go overboard. If you did physical exercise before pregnancy, you can continue to do it in moderation. In fact, low-impact aerobic exercise is recommended during pregnancy.

For this reason, we advise you to exercise guided by a monitor or physical education specialist who knows your condition. Also, in any case, you should always consult your doctor or midwife before starting any physical activity during pregnancy.

Benefits of physical exercise during pregnancy

In addition to the  benefits of physical activity at any time in our lives, physical exercise during pregnancy has other benefits to take into account and that will encourage you to move more:

• It will help you maintain strong muscles and, therefore, improve your postural health. In this way, you can prevent problems such as back pain and favor your condition at the time of delivery.

• It will also improve your stamina. In this way, you will alleviate the fatigue typical of the pregnancy months.
• On the other hand, there is scientific evidence that pregnant women who do physical exercise have a lower risk of suffering from gestational diabetes. 
• It will also help you maintain a correct weight during pregnancy.
• In addition, physical exercise will help you relieve stress, improve your well-being and will be an ally when giving birth.

What type of exercise is recommended?

As mentioned above, low-impact aerobic exercises are especially recommended. Also, you should never forget the importance of stretching, both before and after physical activity.

1. Walk

It is, surely, the most recommended exercise during pregnancy. It is also advisable during all stages of it until the end. In addition to the most well-known benefits, walking favors the arrival of the baby in the last month and helps problems such as swelling of the feet and legs or constipation.

On the other hand, it allows you to maintain the right weight without pushing yourself too hard. Do not hesitate, walk daily.

2. Exercise in the water

Another type of exercise during pregnancy highly recommended. By having the weightlessness provided by water, muscles and joints are not overloaded, reducing the possibility of injury.

In this sense, exercises such as aqua aerobics or swimming are ideal. They will help you have stronger muscles and reduce possible problems such as back pain. In addition, it will improve your circulatory and respiratory health, and your well-being in general.

3. Yoga

By its nature, yoga will help you relax and have a better posture. In this sense, it will help you reduce possible lower back pain and relieve tension and stress. It is a highly recommended type of exercise to prepare for childbirth.

However, do not forget to consult with the specialist in this physical activity. In knowledge of your condition, you can design an ideal routine without contraindications.

4. Pilates

The Pilates method strengthens the abdomen, back and pelvic floor muscles. In this sense, as it does not overload the joints, it can be a really advisable exercise for pregnancy. 

Indeed, it can help you prevent back pain, maintain balance, control breathing and relax. In addition, as we mentioned, it also focuses on strengthening the muscles of the pelvic area. In this sense, you can benefit even more with Kegel exercises.

Be that as it may, remember to be guided by a monitor or specialist who rules out those exercises that you should not perform and helps you to develop a specific routine for pregnant women.

In conclusion, you should exercise during pregnancy, unless there is a medical reason that advises against it. After consulting your doctor or gynecologist, you can start a routine that will only bring you benefits.

Also, keep in mind that physical exercise always supports body self-knowledge and the perception of oneself, so in these months of change together, it can even influence to strengthen the bond with the new life that is brewing within you.

Move on!