One of the things which contribute most to the experience of pregnancy is keeping in shape!  Careful exercise improves your physical condition and keeps you in a good mood.  

Benefits while you are Pregnant

There are a number of excellent reasons to exercise during pregnancy, including:

1.    Increasing self-esteem while lowering depression and anxiety levels
2.    Helping mom-to-be maintain a steady and reasonable weight gain
3.    Reducing pregnancy-associated discomforts
4.    Lowering a woman's chance of having a cesarean
5.    Shortening recovery time after giving birth
6.    Accelerating postpartum weight loss
7.    Increasing energy levels
8.    Improving sleep quality

Benefits during and after Labor

Firstly, keeping in shape reduces your chances for a cesarean and in any case helps increase your energy so you go through the physical challenge of labor with that extra help from your body.  Being in shape can make your labor easier and quicker.

Secondly, developed muscles and higher flexibility result in a shorter time of recovery after giving birth.

Last but not least, you will find it easier to loose the weight gained during your pregnancy, retrieving access to the wardrobe you were denied of for months. 

Which routine is right for you?

Before you plan your trip to the gym or prenatal yoga classes ask your healthcare provider about the best exercise regimen for you.  It is recommended that you start your exercise routine well in advance of becoming pregnant, and your healthcare provider may advise you not to exercise during pregnancy if you have not done so prior to becoming pregnant.  In such a case, walking can provide you with the benefits of exercise without the strain and stress of a more rigorous routine.  Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy and must work hard for your baby to develop properly; starting exercise during pregnancy may strain your body unnecessarily at a time when it needs rest and nourishment.

If your healthcare provider has given you the ok, you should still remember to take it easy. While you are pregnant, your joints are less stable and you are out of balance due to physical changes.  These new conditions require that you are more careful while working out.
 

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