For most mothers-to-be, one of their main fears of pregnancy is the weight gain. Even though most of this weight gain is to be expected – you are carrying a baby after all – some women find that they put on a lot more than expected. This is probably because most women give up their usual exercise routine once they find out that they are pregnant. But is this really necessary? Thankfully, most health experts now believe that women can continue with their normal workouts for as long as they feel comfortable. Exercising isn’t dangerous for the baby, and some doctors believe that continuing to workout can actually help prevent problems in the later months and labor. You just need to remember the following pointers.
Ask Your Doctor
Firstly, you will need to consult your doctor about exercising during pregnancy. Every woman’s pregnancy is completely different from anyone else’s, and some people will be more at risk from certain health conditions and problems while they are pregnant. So, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor to make sure that you aren’t going to aggravate any potential problems by exercising.
Get The Right Clothes
You will no doubt have bought plenty of maternity clothes for you to wear every day during your pregnancy. These will help you feel comfortable throughout the whole nine months. It’s also important that you buy special maternity workout clothes including a workout maternity bra, pants, and t-shirts. These will help you move your body while exercising, and will have plenty of room for your bump!
Get Plenty Of Calories
Exercising uses lots of calories, and pregnancy will also require a lot of calories as well. So, it is important that you increase your daily calorie intake accordingly. You can judge how many extra calories you will need by looking at your pre-pregnancy weight. If you aren’t exactly sure how to figure out how many extra calories you will need, you should speak to your doctor or a nutritionist.
Avoid Dangerous Sports
Even though exercising is completely healthy during pregnancy, there are still some sports that should be avoided as they pose a threat from injury. For instance, you should stop taking part in gymnastics, horse riding, and skiing, as you could be putting your baby at risk if you end up falling. Sports with high contact, such as karate, football, and rugby should also be avoided.
Don’t Lie On Your Back
Once you are into your second trimester, you should not lie on your back for prolonged periods of time. Because of this, you shouldn’t take part in any exercises or workouts that require you to be on your back at all, such as Pilates and Yoga. When you are on your back, the pressure from the womb can reduce blood flow through one of the body’s major veins. You will find that this can make you very dizzy and nauseous.
As you can see, if you exercise safely during pregnancy, there is no reason for giving it up completely!
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