So, in the back of all our minds, we know that it’s important to work out for our overall health. But, for many of us (hello, me included!) working out just doesn’t take priority in our everyday life.
But let me tell you – if there’s ever a time in your life to start moving more and incorporating workouts into your daily routine – it’s now, while you’re pregnant! There are seriously SO many benefits to working out while pregnant.
And maybe that’s not you. Maybe you already do work out regularly! And that’s awesome. Choosing a fitness program that’s specific to pregnancy is going to help you better tailor your workouts so you know you’re getting exactly what your body needs.
Here we’re going to talk about the benefits of prenatal fitness and where to start!
Follow @mommy.labornurse on Instagram to join our community of over 650k for education, tips, and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum!
Wow! That list of benefits is hard to argue with, am I right? There is seriously so much good to be had from staying active during pregnancy. But here’s the thing, this could be in the form of a full-blown prenatal fitness program, but if that’s just not you, then find a way to move your body that you DO love.
This could be adding a brisk walk to your day, swimming, or hiking. Let me share some more info with you guys and answer some of the most common prenatal fitness FAQs I hear.
Okay, so we already talked about all of the benefits above, but I wanted to chime in here with the fact that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends getting about 30 minutes of activity every day!
Here are a few GREAT ways to move during your pregnancy:
Most of the time, YES! Generally, if you were physically active before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation as long as it’s a no-contact activity. But it’s ALWAYS a good idea to check with your provider first.
Also! Don’t necessarily feel like you have to exercise at your former level; instead, do what’s most comfortable for you now. And if you weren’t physically active before your pregnancy, now is a great time to start! Start slow and work up your endurance.
I was SO tired in the first trimester of my second pregnancy that I barely had the energy to care of my kiddo…so exercise? Um no way. BUT…I did find that the days I did find the energy to move…I felt SO good, and it actually helped my fatigue (and my mental state) SO much.
Here is a list of things that are totally safe for the first trimester:
The answer is YES – with a grain of salt! If you were an avid runner before pregnancy and you’ve been cleared for exercising during your pregnancy (aka you have no high-risk factors) – there is no reason why you can’t continue running!
With this said, it’s important to take it slow, and realize that you MAY not be able to run at the speed or capacity you were able to before you were pregnant. If you experience dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, or something just doesn’t feel right – slow down and take a break! You may be 100% fine to continue, but some women are not so it’s very important to listen to your body.
I personally WAS a runner before I got pregnant with Walter. But once I got pregnant, I just couldn’t do it anymore! It was May in North Carolina and the humidity was too much for me, so I decided to take up walking instead.
Running is a great form of exercise, and exercise is always encouraged during pregnancy as long as you don’t have contraindications. If you’re like I was, and running is just too much, switch it up and opt for one of the lower-impact options discussed in this article.
I wanted to round out this article by pointing you toward some other articles, podcast episodes, and content here at MLN that can help you feel your best throughout your pregnancy!