Now we all know that there is no such thing as a pregnant man…unless you are a seahorse, but the question of whether pregnant people, meaning women, can exercise is one that needs to be answered.
There are some people who say that pregnant women should not exercise. This is the furthest thing from the truth. In fact, it is important for pregnant women to exercise. Not only does it keep the mother fit and healthy, but it can also help during labor and speed up recovery time afterward. Women should exercise while pregnant, but just like all other activities change when a woman is pregnant, so do the exercises that are safest and best to do.
Exercising before you have your baby will speed up the recovery process after you have your baby. By keeping your muscles strong and fit, they will help your body recover faster after birth. Also, if you have stronger muscles during labor, your body will be stronger and have more energy, and the more energy the better during labor.
Here are some great exercises that are safe and can be done during pregnancy.
1. Walking – Walking is actually one of the best exercises in general, even if you’re not pregnant. Walking is extremely good for you and is a great low-key exercise. Don’t walk as if you were walking to your car. Put a little jump in your step and walk for the purpose of exercise. If you have a dog, it’s a great way to do two things at once. Exercise and walk the dog.
2. Jogging: jogging is very effective and safe for the baby in you. Jogging can become more difficult as your pregnancy progresses due to the weight you may be carrying, but it is generally safe throughout the entire process.
3. Swimming: Swimming is an excellent exercise that can take all the weight off your joints. Sometimes carrying the extra weight can cause pain and stress on the knees and ankles. Swimming is an amazing way to continue exercising while reducing that pain.
4. Abdominal exercises: Abdominal exercises are great for strengthening labor and recovery. The only precaution with abdominal exercises is to lie on your back. This can reduce blood pressure and blood flow to the baby. It is suggested to do abdominal exercises that do not require you to lie on your back. This means that sit-ups and sit-ups are not a good idea. There are still tons of great ab exercises that you can do standing up or on all fours.
There are some activities that you should avoid if you are pregnant. That is, try to avoid any activity that could cause you to trip or fall. Bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, sports that involve contact or a lot of movement like tennis, volleyball, soccer, and more can pose a fall, jolt, or injury hazard to you or your baby. As your pregnancy progresses, the activities you can participate in will decrease.
The purpose of this article is to let you know that exercise is generally okay during pregnancy and to give you ideas of exercises you can do. This is not intended to be advice or counsel in any way. Always check with your doctor or midwife before exercising to make sure the exercises you want to do are right for your specific situation.