| The most important information anyone can tell you in | | | | during your pregnancy. |
| regards to fitness for pregnancy is - consult your | | | | It is recommended that pregnant women exercise |
| doctor! Your doctor should always approve of your | | | | three times per week. Obviously that will be a lot |
| intended fitness program, as you health care provider | | | | harder for some women than it will be for others to |
| will know what you can and can not do over the 9 | | | | find the time, and energy to complete their |
| month period. You must not overexert yourself and | | | | recommended exercises. However, simple things like |
| always work at your own rate. | | | | taking the stairs (as long as it is not excessive) or |
| Simple fitness regimes are probably the best thing for | | | | parking further away from your child's school and walk |
| most pregnant women. For those that are happy to | | | | them to the gate, taking the dog for a walk, can make |
| construct their own program, include exercise like | | | | a difference. |
| stretching and walking. Stretching is important before | | | | It is surprising how many people do not realize or |
| you start any form of exercise, but can also be used | | | | appreciate the critical differences in exercise regimes |
| as an exercise itself. Pilates has developed from this, | | | | for a pregnant woman must consider against her |
| and there are many pilates pregnancy classes for | | | | non-expecting counterpart. Dangers of an inappropriate |
| women who would like to take this exercise further | | | | exercise program can include miscarriage. Other |
| than just simple stretches in the home. | | | | dangers include injuring yourself (as well as the baby). |
| Keeping yourself fit during you pregnancy has many | | | | Over exerting yourself whilst pregnant (too high a |
| benefits. Reduced weight gain, increased endurance | | | | heart rate) puts both baby and yourself at risk. A |
| (for daily life as well as during labor), increased energy, | | | | major benefit of being fit during your pregnancy is that |
| and some times even reduced morning sickness are | | | | the process of actual childbirth can be less difficult. |
| all benefits that you can obtain by regularly exercising | | | | Also, recovery following pregnancy is much quicker. |