Prior to becoming pregnant I was really active doing pilates and yoga and was pretty happy with my athletic abilities. I kept up as best I could after becoming pregnant but the first trimester left me very tired and (thankfully only slightly) nauseous. I purchased a prenatal yoga DVD
Keeping physically active during pregnancy is really important! You don’t need to be running marathons or physically exhausting your body to gain the benefits for yourself and your baby.
Women who exercise during pregnancy experience:
- less aches and pains
- higher levels of energy
- lower risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure
- a healthy amount of weight gain
(Source: March of Dimes)
Benefits to baby include:
- enhanced brain development (source)
- healthier birth weight
- lower risk of obesity as they age
Exercise during pregnancy is safe for most women however if you have a pregnancy with multiples or other health risk factors your health care provider may advise against it. They will likely discuss this with you, but always ask about the specific activities you are interested in. If at any time your activity becomes painful or you experience cramping or other symptoms of pre-term labor then you need to stop, rest, and call your health care provider.
What is your favorite way to keep active?
I have always been an avid jogger, but during pregnancy, I was too nervous to jog. I didn't work out at all! : ( I am now having a difficult time losing the extra weight. Exercising is important advice!
I feel like I haven't exercised in forever. During the spring/summer months, I would often take a walk with the kids but in the winter it is so cold. And now, being 8 months pregnant…no way! Exercise is so far from my mind, even though I know it shouldn't be. I'm also suffering from pubic symphysis and I'm in so much pain. I am making so many excuses!<br /><br />Thanks for
i wish during my pregnancy i had exercised more! now with a busy little one walking around i hardly find the time!
I took a daily walk with my kiddos when expecting #3. This had become our routine so we just kept it up. I had both kids in a double jogging stroller which I pushed while walking briskly. Even though it was "just" walking, keeping up a steady pace and pushing 2 toddlers in a jogging stroller actually made for a really good workout while pregnant!
I had a really hard time doing prenatal yoga in my first pregnancy. I'm hoping when we have another child that I'll be more consistent with it!
I took up swimming specifically to be able to keep exercising while pregnant. It'll just be the matter of making myself go to the gym!
I was 6 weeks when I went to my first doctor's appointment and the first thing she said was "absolutely no exercise, except for walking." I honestly thought she was joking and laughed. Her stern look was all the confirmation that I needed she was, in fact, not joking. She then told me if she found out I was exercising, she'd be forced to be me on "preemptive bedrest."
Wow Kadie that is very unusual for a doctor to not recommend any exercise during pregnancy for someone who is not having any complications and is in good enough physical shape to be training for a half marathon! I'm glad you were able to switch to a doctor who supported your decisions. As much as I loved doing yoga, I wish I had also stuck with cardio training after the first trimester
I’m going to prenatal yoga class once a week and when I’m at home, I make sure I move around. I watch exercise videos on YouTube and now that the weather’s getting better in Canada, I’ve been able to go outside for walks 🙂
i didnt work out as much as i should have the first time around 2nd time i will do better i feel so much better when i work out.
This is great information!
I have always worked out when I was pregnant , I felt so much more healthier, I ate better, I was able to do so much more and even sleep better and all because of working out… loved it 🙂 thanks for share @tisonlyme143
I think exercise during pregnancy is important and I did yoga during my pregnancies. I have two daughters who are pregnant and I am trying to convince them they need more exercise as it helps the birthing process go more smoothly
I was constantly on the go with baby #2 with two other toddlers running around and my hubby working weeks at a time I did everything outside/inside chores along with my yoga ;P I had a great pregnancy until my hip went out of place that was NO FUN at all.
My doctor told me I can continue the level of exercise I did before pregnancy. I haven’t been regularly exercising. But now I’m in my second trimester with a lot more energy than my first. Sometimes I get out of breath easily. But when I have the energy I use it towards chores and yard work. It just depends how I feel.
I’ve been so tired during NY first trimester that I didn’t exercise. Now, I have no energy and have to take everything slow. I wish I exercised more.
With my first pregnancies I was so uninformed/misinformed about being active and staying fit. With this pregnancy I’ve been very active doing moderate workouts and I love how I feel when I do! It keeps my mood upbeat and makes keeps me fit.
Exercise was definitely a hard thing to accomplish for me. I was just sooo tired. I knew it would help with energy but I just couldn’t bring myself to most days.
Thank you for the information! I’ve never been pregnant and have always wondered how much exercise was safe during pregnancy.
I think its very important for you to work out, not going over board but small work outs and eating healthy
During my first pregnancy, I worked 40+ hours a week, at a very active job, climbing ladders and such, and I did that well into my 8th month! With my second, I had been laid off, and did online schooling, but I also had an active 4 year old, so we went for walks and played outside. I did purchase a prenatal yoga dvd that I used from time to time, but I was incredibly sick throughout my second pregnancy, so I slept a lot. My doctor’s resident did tell me that I needed to lose weight, and I told HIM that HE needed to grow a person, gain 20#, AND exercise in 100 degrees!! I probably would’ve taken it more seriously if a woman doctor had commented that, because a man has NO IDEA! My older son was 8.6#, 21″ and my LO was 8.8#, 22″…so I guess I’m doing things right!
This is a great article, I can really relate to how beneficial it is to stay active during pregnancy, and how challenging it can be at times.
Ugh thank you so much for this post. People always give me wierd looks when they see me exercising with my belky or I tell them i exercise. Of course I know what to do and not do