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Exercise – good for mums-to-be … but take a sensible approach!
So you’re pregnant … Well, there’s no need to hesitate when it comes to exercise. Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to keep still! On the contrary, your body will thank you for staying active! But of course, you still need to be careful. Not all forms of sport are advisable when you’re pregnant. In fact, some are most definitely to be avoided: they include diving, parachuting and all combat sports. Instead, choose a form of exercise that’s suitable in pregnancy.
It’s best to look for some kind of sustained, graded exercise. A proper warm up is, of course, essential. Endurance exercise such as swimming, walking and even cycling are fine during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. And if you enjoy aqua gym, feel free to continue with it until the end of your pregnancy.
All this will help when it comes to giving birth. Most studies report a shorter labour time, better dilation of the cervix and also a shorter delivery time. Moreover, women who continue to exercise are shown to put on less weight during pregnancy than those who don’t. Exercise also helps to prevent stretch marks and reduces the risk of venous complications.
However, exercise must be graded. Obviously, you must not overdo it and it’s important to be sure you get enough rest. For example, if you walk for an hour, rest for the same amount of time. And most importantly, ask advice from your doctor or midwife before embarking on any form of exercise.
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