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The Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy

Most women who exercise when they are pregnant greatly benefit from staying active. In fact, regular exercise is just as important as following a nutritious diet. Maintaining a healthy weight is good for both you and your baby. It may come as a surprise to you, but only recently has it been discovered that exercising during pregnancy is beneficial to the health of both mother and child. Once upon a time pregnant woman were encouraged to stay off their feet and refrain from working and participating in sporting activities.

Now researchers believe that regular, moderate exercise performed three times a week for 30 minutes, can do wonders for the health and wellness of an expecting mother and her baby. Not only will pregnant women enjoy the regular benefits of exercise, but it can also help them manage all of the other not-so-friendly aspects of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, weight gain and aches and pains from stiff muscles.

Once you start exercising, you will discover the many benefits that stretching and working your muscles provides both your physical and mental self.

What are the benefits of exercising during pregnancy?

Feel Better – As your pregnancy progresses and your body changes, you may begin to feel like you are in someone else’s body. By exercising you will increase your sense of control and will feel better as exercise releases endorphins which are natural chemicals that occur in your brain.

Furthermore, the right exercise will strengthen and tone the muscles in your thighs, buttocks and back, which will help to improve your posture and relieve backaches. This is important, because during pregnancy, hormonal changes will loosen your joints.

Look Better – When you exercise you will increase the blood flow to your skin, which will give you a healthy glow. Not only that, but you will improve your self image. It can be quite disheartening to watch the numbers increase each time you step on the scale. When you stay active, you will be less likely to pack on more pounds then you should.

Prepare for Birth – You need determination, stamina and focus when it comes time to deliver your baby. The stronger your muscles are, the easier time you will have with labor and delivery. When you can control your breathing you will be able to better manage your pain and discomfort. Furthermore, should you have a long labor, the strength you have built from exercising will increase your endurance.

Reduce The Discomforts of Pregnancy - Exercise helps to reduce some of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with pregnancy. For instance, stretching your muscles will help you ease back pain. You will find that walking will help to encourage circulation and blood flow throughout the body. Swimming can make your abdominal muscles stronger. You will also discover that exercise can also help reduce morning sickness and constipation as it aids in digestion.

Reduce stress levels – Pregnancy can be a very stressful time. Having a child changes your life. All of your expectations and anxieties can overwhelm you and can sometimes leave you feeling down. Exercise, such as dancing, can help you reduce stress by increasing the levels of serotonin (chemical that controls your moods, sleep, vomiting, sexuality and appetite) in the brain. Exercise will help you overcome feelings of depression and anxiety and boost your spirits, and will help to keep your hormones balanced.

Energy Boost – There is no question that pregnancy can take a toll on your energy. You can increase your level of energy by taking part in a regular exercise routine. Exercise helps to strengthen your cardiovascular system which increases your endurance. When your body is in shape, you require less energy when participating in activities (ie food shopping, walking to the store, and even sitting in an office meeting.)

Sleep better - When you begin to carry around an extra 15 pounds on your tummy, sleeping proves to be more and more difficult; it becomes harder for you to get comfortable. Exercise will help tire you out. It will relax your muscles, and increase your chances of getting a quality good night sleep.

Prevents and manages gestational diabetes – Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, and affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women. Like all forms of diabetes, pregnant woman with gestational diabetes have high blood sugar (glucose) levels. In most cases, gestational diabetes disappears after the birth of the baby.

Exercise can prevent you from getting gestational diabetes as it will help to keep your blood sugar level normal. If you already have gestational diabetes, exercise is still a great way to treat your condition and regulate your blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor what exercise activities are best for your condition.

Lose pounds after pregnancy – This is one of the best benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Once you have had your baby, you’ll find it much easier to shrink back to your original size, because your muscles will be toned and strengthened, as your body will already be accustomed to exercise.

As you can see, the benefits of exercising are too great to ignore. The right exercise can only help to better the health of you and your baby.

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