By Joziah Grey
When you’re considering exercising safely when pregnant, there are some things you should keep in mind before getting started.
Why Pregnancy Exercise Matters
Increasing activity during pregnancy is a benefit for you and your baby’s health.
When you engage in physical activity, you can feel better during the pregnancy and if you choose something like clinical pilates, you might even have a smoother time during and after birth.
The other health benefits that come with physical exercise when pregnant include things such as increased quality of sleep, better mood, better energy, better stress management, and healthy weight gain.
One thing to have in mind is that you should have a health professional check your exercise routine to understand any risks. Also remember the amount of exercise you do depends on how much exercise you did prior to pregnancy.
Some Safe Pregnancy Exercise Options
If at all possible, combining a mix of aerobic exercise and strength training is a good idea as these work different parts of your body to give you a good workout.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, and pregnancy-specific aqua aerobics are a great idea. Most can be implemented as a part of your daily routine, and many are light on your body without too much impact.
Strength Training
Strength and flexibility training is safe for pregnancy, as long as you avoid lying on your back, this is often in the form of Clinical Pilates or yoga with a qualified instructor.
Avoid These Exercises During Pregnancy
Pregnancy changes a lot in your body, and this can make some exercises unsafe for you or your body. These activities can be unsafe, and you should run them past your medical professionals before engaging in them. It’s also important to be wary of overheating as this can cause issues for you and your baby.
- Impact Sports: such as netball, tennis, and basketball that cause you to change direction suddenly.
- Contact Sport: This can be dangerous as you can get hit in the stomach and includes soccer, football, hockey, and boxing, to name a few.
- Sports with Risks of Falls: This includes horseback riding, skiing, and gymnastics.
- Sports with Pressure Changes: Such as scuba diving or skydiving.
Choose Prenatal Pilates
Prenatal Pilates is a great option for pregnant women as it is made specifically to cater to the needs of pregnant women. Propel Physiotherapy can help pregnant women prepare their bodies for labour and help them be in a better space after the pregnancy too.
