Exercise During Pregnancy

Maintaining a modified workout routine is vital to a healthy pregnancy and makes post-pregnancy shape up a lot faster and easier.

It’s important to eat and exercise for your unique, pregnant body. You will still glow even with the extra baby weight.

There’s a lot you can do to keep healthy, like getting your extra calories by eating protein, rather than cake. Whatever you do to keep fit, make sure you’re not dieting. However, you can and should exercise.

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Check out these tips to get you on a wise and healthy Pregnancy (& Post-Pregnancy) Fitness Plan. This is the path to your most beautiful, pregnant self!

QUIZ: Do You Have a Healthy Exercise Routine?

Before beginning a new exercise regime, check with your OB. Once you get cleared, use these tips to make the best of your workout.

• Maintain regular breathing throughout the exercises. Don’t strain or hold your breath.
• Wear a bra that provides good support, but doesn’t push against your breasts.
• After you’ve had your sweet little baby, nurse before your exercise, if possible. This will make you more comfortable during workouts.
• Drink loads of water throughout the day, especially when you’re exercising. By the time you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
• Exercise at moderate intensity. On a 10-point perceived exertion scale, work out at about a five to a seven. If you become so breathless that you can’t maintain a conversation, stop. Don’t continue if you feel overheated, either. You can resume at a more modest intensity after you’ve regained your breath and cooled down.
• Avoid exercising on an empty stomach, but try to finish eating at least one hour beforehand.
• Avoid bouncy, erratic or jerky movements while pregnant.
• Don’t exercise on your back after the first trimester. Elevate your right hip by placing a pillow under it while doing exercises on your back. 
• Stop and call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms during exercise...Vaginal bleeding or spotting, unusual shortness of breath, visual disturbance, sudden headache, chest pain, unusual pelvic pain, racing heartbeat, amniotic fluid leakage, uterine contractions lasting longer than 30 seconds, preterm labor or any unusual change in fetal movement patterns.

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