| In contrast to medical advice given to pregnant | | | | Also, consult with your doctor before beginning any |
| women not too long ago, doctors today know that | | | | new exercise program. |
| exercising during pregnancy is not only safe but is | | | | There are also some specific activities that must be |
| actually beneficial to both mother and baby. | | | | avoided. Riding bikes is dangerous for women and |
| Although working out may be the last thing that a | | | | fetuses because of the risk of falls. The same is true |
| pregnant woman feels like doing, it is good for | | | | for both snow skiing and water skiing. Kickboxing, or |
| expectant mothers to engage in some form of | | | | anything else that risks blows to the abdomen, must |
| workouts during pregnancy. | | | | also be avoided. |
| Of course, there are guidelines that must be followed, | | | | A common myth surrounding workouts during |
| but the benefits of exercise far outweigh the | | | | pregnancy is that all abdominal exercises must be |
| inconvenience that it may be. After all, childbirth is one | | | | avoided. While traditional sit ups or crunches will need |
| of the most strenuous physical activities that a human | | | | to be avoided, because they will soon become |
| body can endure; why wouldn't a mother want to | | | | impossible to perform, it is actually important to |
| prepare physically for this event? | | | | strengthen the abdomen during pregnancy. The |
| One of the most important guidelines regarding | | | | abdominal and pelvic muscles support much of the |
| workouts during pregnancy is that moderation is key. | | | | weight of the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid, and |
| Over-doing it will cause not only discomfort, but may | | | | strengthening them will aid in keeping the mother |
| actually be dangerous, if it entails raising the body | | | | comfortable throughout the pregnancy. |
| temperature of the mother too much. The mother's | | | | These muscles will also be responsible for delivering |
| body temperature affects the developing baby, | | | | the baby, and stronger muscles can translate into a |
| especially in early pregnancy, so over-straining must be | | | | smoother labor and delivery experience. Abdominal |
| avoided. | | | | exercises should be modified for comfort but are |
| A good rule of thumb is not to start a new exercise | | | | important to maintain during pregnancy. |
| program that you didn't do before you were pregnant. | | | | |