About Pregnancy: Exercise And Your Baby

December 21, 2009   Filed under pregnancy

Many myths run amok regarding exercise during pregnancy. Some people believe that starting an exercise regime after conception of a child will lead to a miscarriage. Until recently, even some doctors continued to believe old wive’s tales about the harmful effects on the fetus when the mother exercises. However, we now know that the reality is that exercising during pregnancy is not only beneficial to the mother, but also to the baby.

One of the main myths of pregnancy is that you should not do any abdominal exercises. Although these exercises may not be possible to perform in the later parts of your pregnancy, doing core exercises will make getting back to your previous figure easier. Moreover, since core exercises work deep pelvic muscles, you may have a shorter, safer labor for both you and your baby. Also important is the benefit of core exercises on the back, which takes a lot of stress during pregnancy.

Regardless, before embarking on any exercise regimen while pregnant, you should consult your doctor. As a general rule, however, if you had a set regimen before you got pregnant, you should have no complications from continuing that same regimen after. That being said, be sure to monitor your exhaustion level, and remember that staying fit is a great priority, but trying to lose weight for the first time during pregnancy is whole separate thing. If you need to starting losing weight after you have conceived, eat a clean diet.

The best way to determine what level of exercise you can handle after you are pregnant is to continue the original regimen you were on. Then, let your doctor know what cardiovascular and strength training you are doing, and keep him or her informed throughout your pregnancy. By listening to them and your own body, you will be able to monitor you and let you know if it is time to back off on intensity.

One thing you do want to keep in mind before beginning any exercise regimen is body temperature. Your baby’s body does not regulate its own temperature, so you want to make sure that you are performing proper warm up and cool down sessions. Talk to your doctor about this for more specifics.

When it comes to flexibility exercises, while you do not want to completely rid yourself of stretching activities, you do want to keep them to a minimum. The reason for this is a little hormone your body produces in excess during pregnancy called relaxin. This hormone lubricates your joints, so it may seem like you have a greater range of motion, you have to be careful as this increased range also increases your risk of injury.

In addition to limiting deep muscle movements and other flexibility exercises, try to avoid exercises involving your ability to balance. This would include such activities as biking and using roller blades. While fun, your balance will naturally be off during your pregnancy, and while the exercise itself will not harm you, one fall can really hurt your unborn child.

So, while you are pregnant, keep exercising. Your baby will be born with healthier, and you will come out of the labor quicker and in better condition. Use your best judgment, common sense, keep your doctor informed, and remember to listen to your body.

If you’ve enjoyed all the information you read here, you will also find our articles about baby heartbeat monitor helpful. In fact, you’ll love everything you will find at http://www.babyheartbeatmonitors.net

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