• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Keeping Fit During Pregnancy

January 5, 2011 by ds_15457 Leave a Comment

The exhaustion, morning sickness and aches of pregnancy make it challenging to find motivation for exercise, but staying fit is a key element in a healthy pregnancy. Most women can safely exercise throughout a pregnancy. Customizing your maternity fitness plan ensures that your personal needs are met without putting you or your baby’s health at risk.

Benefits

Staying fit helps you move around easier even at the end of your pregnancy, when exhaustion is often a problem. Physical activity during pregnancy builds your endurance and keeps your cardiovascular system in shape, helping give your baby an optimal environment in utero and preparing you for the intensity of labor. Keeping your body in shape will also make you feel better overall and helps you bounce back after your baby is born.

Considerations

Your fitness level entering the pregnancy plays a large role in how you stay fit while pregnant. A woman who exercises regularly is generally able to continue during pregnancy unless the exercise is extremely high impact or presents a risk of falling. Modifications to intensity level help you continue with physical activity. A women who isn’t already in shape needs a slower approach to exercising during pregnancy to avoid injury. A woman experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or complications should consult with her personal physician before exercising to ensure her baby’s safety.

Clothing

Comfort is key when choosing maternity workout gear. Clothing made from synthetic materials wick away sweat from the body. Stretchy form-fitting fabrics as well as oversized cotton t-shirts are practical options for your changing form. Support is also a concern. Choose supportive, comfortable shoes, especially for activities like walking and jogging. You may even need a larger size, as feet often swell in pregnancy. You’ll also need to wear a supportive sports bra, especially if your breasts are tender from the pregnancy.

Safety

Staying fit isn’t worth an injury to yourself or harm to your baby. Safety precautions reduce the risk of harm, allowing you to reach your goals of pregnancy fitness. Pay attention to your body for signals that something is wrong. Strange pains, contractions and especially vaginal bleeding signal the need to stop and consult with your physician. Dizziness and nausea tell you to slow down or choose a different type of exercise. After the first trimester, avoid any form of exercise that requires you to lie on your back. The heavy uterus can slow blood flow in this position. Combining an exercise routine with a healthy diet can be more effective than exercise alone.

Activity Ideas

Low-impact exercises protect the joints and prevent jarring of the baby as you get and stay fit throughout your pregnancy. Walking is a popular choice during pregnancy because of its low impact and allows you to easily modify distance and intensity to match your fitness level. Swimming is another option for staying fit without putting strain on your joints. A prenatal yoga class can increas your strength, flexibility and balance while taking your special needs into account.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting, Pregnancy

About ds_15457

Shelley Frost has been a freelance writer since 2007, specializing in parenting and education. Her work can be found on websites such as ModernMom.com and PreschoolRock.com. Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Northern Iowa.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Kissing Kids on the Lips: Fine or Not?

I recently read an article that says that parents should not … [Read More...] about Kissing Kids on the Lips: Fine or Not?

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Cook London Broil in an Electric Pressure Cooker

How to Cook London Broil in an Electric Pressure Cooker

Advantages & Disadvantages for Children in a Single-Parent Family

Can You Get Pregnant Without Menstruating?

How to Help Young Kids Lose Weight

cold sore and fever blister remedies

Cold Sore and Fever Blister Remedies

Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

How to Use Frozen Bananas for Baking

When to Take a Toddler to the Emergency Room With a Fever

When to Take a Toddler to the Emergency Room With a Fever

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.