Physical Activity In Pregnancy

Unless you've been living under a rock, you already know there are many benefits to having a healthy lifestyle and including exercise as part of your daily routine. Physical activity, moving around and not being sedentary, leads to improved health and fitness and as a result, a healthier pregnancy.

Benefits of Exercise

The benefits of exercise are myriad and well known. It is used as a means to help in the healing process for such diseases as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure as well as a tool with which to deal with stress and even depression. A good night's sleep is often one of the first noted benefits of exercise and by expending energy you get it back many times over. By getting into the habit of being active and staying that way, your delivery can go faster and easier and regaining your pre-pregnancy body is much easier as well.

Many Places to Exercise

Joining a gym isn't necessarily the only way to get into a fitness program while you're pregnant, but it certainly is one way. Often fitness centers run programs for pregnant women which take the physical changes a woman experiences during pregnancy into account. Women's health centers and hospitals also provide fitness help for women who want to avail themselves of it. But, there are a lot of other things you can do to be active during your pregnancy. We're looking for increased physical activity, whatever way works best for you.

You'd Be Surprised...It's Not All In A Gym

By adopting a healthier lifestyle by changing your diet to ensure you're not packing on needless pounds but eating with an eye toward optimal health for yourself and your baby, and by adding physical activity, you'll not only feel better but you'll look better as well. Some ideas to stay active while you're pregnant (and after you've given birth) are things that are easy to do, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and if you're working in an office building, opt to walk the flight of stairs up to the bathroom on the next floor. Rather than using email or the phone, take a walk to your co-worker's office. When you're shopping, visiting friends or working, park further away and walk the distance to your destination. You can catch your bus at the next stop in the next block by walking there. Rather than vegging in front of the television, use the time to stretch or do isometric exercises. Dance, Dance, Dance. Work in the garden (if you have one) or help someone who does have a garden. Learn a new sport that isn't too rough on you, take a class, do some yoga, play a team sport. Just get in motion, your health and body will be better for it.

Listen To Your Body

Pay attention to your body. Listen to the signals it is giving you and stay within the limits that are both safe yet challenging enough to give you value. Pregnancy can be the start of motherhood and a whole new active lifestyle.