October 19, 2007
Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines
For Both Your Health, and Your Baby's, Follow These Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines!
Recent studies confirm that regular exercise before, during, and after pregnancy, decreases the risk of a myriad of health problems for both the mother and child, but it is important to know what types of exercises are appropriate, and so you can follow pregnancy exercise guidelines to benefit you both! Research has proven a direct correlation between birth weight and health of the baby and exercise, but has also proven a positive link between exercise and maternal health, especially concerning pregnancy related hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, which has been proven to be an indicator of the development of type two diabetes in the mother's later in their lives.
In addition, mothers who exercise before becoming pregnant, and follow pregnancy exercise guidelines establishing good exercise routines during pregnancy, tend to have more positive birthing experiences, in which labor and delivery tends to be less traumatic and shorter in duration. Pregnancy exercise guidelines are important, because as the body changes with pregnancy, certain forms of exercise become more or less beneficial, and modifications must be made accordingly.
Pregnancy exercise guidelines state that contact sports are not appropriate for expectant mothers. As the body changes during pregnancy, the center of gravity changes as well and balancing exercises may become problematic. Bodily changes during pregnancy also put more strain on the joints, back, and muscles of the expectant woman. For that reason, exercise should be low impact. Exercise that puts a woman at risk for falling (such as horseback riding) should be avoided, as should any exercise that raises the mother's body temperature beyond 102-103 degrees. Good choices are swimming and water exercise, which eliminates the impact on joints, relieves the strain of exercising with the added abdominal weight, pelvic pressure and back pain, walking, low-impact aerobics, and stationary bicycling.
Pregnancy exercise guidelines stress the fact that the ultimate authority on whether or not you should exercise during your pregnancy is your obstetrician. Certain conditions during pregnancy make exercise dangerous for both the mother and the baby, and if your doctor has told you to avoid exercise, you should follow his directions. Another indicator that you should not continue a particular exercise is the presence of pain. Anytime an exercise hurts a pregnant woman, she should stop and consult her physician.
Recommended Reading
- Exercise During Pregnancy Guidelines
- Ratings of best pregnancy exercise videos
- Pregnancy Exercise is Good for You
- The Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy is the First Gift You Can Give Your Baby!
- Kathy Smith Pregnancy Exercise Videos
Comments on Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines »
Healthy helpful information about pregnancy and exercise… thank you sharing…
By practicing pregnancy exercise regularly all through your pregnancy can boost your energy levels, relieve your backaches and improve your self-image.
Walking is the best pregnancy exercise throughout the pregnancy. However, its good to practice aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises.
Dancing, pilates, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, stretching, biking are also good pregnancy exercises. Whatever the exercise may be, one always has to listen to body signs.
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