Are you expecting? Don’t stop being active!
Are you expecting soon, well firstly, congratulations! It’ll be a busy time of preparing – getting the nursery ready, doctors visits and buying those baby clothes. However, do you know the one thing that is further down on the list – keeping active!
A recent article by Harvard Health outlined why ladies to keep active during pregnancy.
The article outlines that that exercising during pregnancy may reduce weight gain, reduce the risk for gestational diabetes, particularly in overweight or obese women and lower the risk for caesarean delivery.
Plus, it helps pregnant women prevent or manage inevitable aches and pains. Regular physical activity during pregnancy may help psychological well-being and possibly even reduce depression and anxiety during the postpartum period. Additionally, women who exercise during pregnancy may recover more quickly after the birth.
Is it safe to exercise when pregnant?
As we have discussed, undertaking regular physical activity has health benefits during pregnancy and helps to prepare the body for childbirth.
However, it is extremely important to modify or choose a suitable exercise program because pregnancy affects the body’s response to exercise.
Be sensible about the level of exercise that you do.
Consult your doctor or speak to one of our accredited exercise physiologists to make sure the exercise routine is not harmful for you or your baby.
If the pregnancy is complicated (such as expecting more than one baby, high blood pressure, heart disease, pre-eclampsia, or risk of premature births) it is best to talk to a doctor.
What types of exercise can you do?
We also promote that you do the exercises you actually enjoy doing as this will help you stick to a good routine.
Pregnant women can generally do brisk walking, swimming, stationary cycling, low-impact aerobics, yoga or Pilates, and running. Most of these activities can be modified for your growing belly.
What should I avoid in terms of exercise?
There are a few areas which we would advise caution with. There are some activities you should avoid, including:
Contact sports that could cause injury, such as netball, hockey, or soccer.
Any kid of sports that are risky or likely to cause falls, such as skiing, surfing, or gymnastics
Scuba diving
Hot yoga or hot Pilates, because increases in body temperature might harm the growing baby.
Don’t lie flat on your back for long periods of time, particularly after 16 weeks, because the weight of your bump presses on the big blood vessels and can make you feel faint and reduce blood flow to your baby.
Don’t do repetitive high impact exercise, or with lots of twists and turns, high stepping or sudden stops that cause joint discomfort.
Keeping active helps in the long run!
The importance of exercise during pregnancy can be highlighted in numerous research articles so we cannot stress it enough!
However, at PACE Health Management we will always advise you to speak to a professional who can guide you along your pregnancy to help keep you and bub fit and well.
If you’d like more information, get in touch with us today.