You should always take excellent care of yourself, but it is doubly important to do so when you are pregnant. You want your fetus to have the best chance of maturing into a healthy child, and you want the birth to go smoothly as well. That means eating well, eliminating the ingestion of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, and getting the proper amount of sleep and exercise. Here are five reasons that exercise while pregnant is a great idea.
It Gives You an Energy Boost
Pregnancy can be tiring. Sometimes you feel ill, and then your hormones kick in, and you want to do nothing more than lie on the couch. But if you can motivate yourself and do 20-30 minutes of light aerobic exercise, you can banish those feelings of nausea. Mild exercise releases endorphins, and they will counteract the lethargy that threatens to overtake you. With toned, strong muscles, you will be better able to endure the rigors of what carrying the baby and the childbirth process will put you through. You can also monitor how the child is doing with a smart tracker, like the site http://www.bloomlife.com offers.
Sleep Better
Sleeping can be tough during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimester as your belly expands. But when you exercise you wear yourself out, and that can help bring on some natural and much-needed sleep. You need to rest so that you can face the challenges of the next day, and you don’t want to have to resort to caffeine which can harm the fetus.
Fewer Pregnancy-Related Complications
You don’t want to lie around all day when you’re pregnant. Inactivity increases the risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Being pregnant is not a decree to stay off your feet and do nothing. By exercising, you’re making it much more likely that both you and the child will remain healthy through birth and beyond. Your baby’s weight is more likely to be normal, which means there is less chance you will have to have a caesarian section.
Stress Reduction
Exercise reduces your stress level, and it’s easy to worry when you’re pregnant, especially if it’s your first child. Chances are things will work out fine, but if you can’t help but feel a little stressed, a mild workout will take your mind off it for a time. Exercise releases serotonin, which will pick you up and put you in a better mood. Having friends or family there to work out with you helps too.
Get Your Body Back Faster After the Birth
Weight gain when pregnant is inevitable, but if you don’t completely let yourself go during that nine-month period, you will be better able to regain your pre-baby body afterward. Keep your body used to working out and it won’t be such a shock when you get back in the gym after the long layoff.
Staying active will also help you maintain a positive self-image. Pay extra attention to your body during pregnancy, and set a schedule for mild exercise that you can keep. You don’t want to overexert yourself, but neither do you want to slack off entirely. Find the middle ground.
This is a great article its very important to stay when when pregnaant
I’ll definitely exercise more if it helps me sleep better!
My niece is expecting her first. I’m going to ask her if she is still exercising!