Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Fitness and Pregnancy *Guest Blogger*

Fitness and pregnancy don’t necessarily go hand in hand. When I was seven months pregnant, the last thing I wanted to do was get on the treadmill. A recent study showed that a whopping 77% of pregnant women in the United States do not get enough exercise. This should scare us!

Exercise and pregnancy have to go together. We need to find a way to make these two aspects of life go hand in hand, or everybody suffers! The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant women get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week. (As always, consult your physician before starting.)

Yet, not all doctors and midwives are prioritizing exercise for their patients. Women need to educate themselves, and create their own opportunities to exercise. Yes, some hospitals offer a prenatal yoga class, and while prenatal yoga is awesome, one class per week is not enough exercise!

While high impact exercise is indeed out for a few months, there are plenty of low impact options out there, like walking, swimming, water walking, and water aerobics. Women can also make good use of stationary bikes, rowing machines, and cross country skiing machines.

A woman needs to realize that her body is indeed changing, but it is still quite capable of exercise. Often pregnant women feel too sick, or too tired to exercise, and they don’t realize that exercise will likely make them feel better. Exercise can also prevent the onset of depression, which is becoming more common in pregnant women.

It is too easy to gain excess weight during pregnancy, and sticking to a regular fitness routine will help women keep that extra weight from weighing them down. Staying fit for nine months will also prepare a woman’s body for the greatest workout of all – labor! Women who are in shape have shorter labors, easier deliveries, and are less likely to need a C-section.

For more information on having an active and healthy pregnancy, please visit uBaby, an online community for new moms and moms-to-be. While you’re there, you are invited to blog on the site and let us know what’s going on in your world!

~Robin Merril~


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