Pregnancy can be a challenging time, what types of foods should I be eating, is exercise beneficial or not, what type of exercise should you be doing?
It is proven that being active has a profound effect on overall health and wellbeing, not only for you but also for your developing baby.
Here are 5 reasons why exercise should be a part of your prenatal plan;
- Exercise helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating, and swelling;
Training and strengthening the muscles in your abdomen help alleviate back pain during pregnancy which is one of the most common frustrations women experience. Also increased circulation will help reduce fluid retention, bloating, swelling and the probability of developing varicose veins.
- Exercise helps control healthy weight gain and can prevent Gestational Diabetes;
Weight gain is inevitable during Pregnancy but the average weight a female should be looking at is approximately 1-2kg per month. Consistent training will help maintain a healthy weight gain and can also reduce the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes through reducing insulin resistance and help keeping blood sugar levels under control.
- Improves your mood;
During pregnancy hormone levels spike and drop which dramatically affects your mood and can be linked to postnatal depression.
30mins of exercise a day, 5 times a week can not only keep you and your baby healthy but has been shown to alleviate mild depression and in some cases, is as effective as some anti-depressant medication.
- Strengthen pelvic floor muscles;
Studies show that 1-in-3 females suffer from incontinence during and after pregnancy. Strengthening the pelvic floor dramatically reduces the likelihood of experiencing these embarrassing moments and is also proven to help the mother cope during labour.
- Helps prepare for Labour and decrease length of labour;
One of the major factors that affect labour time is being active during pregnancy. The average time in labour is 8hrs, but tests have shown that physical activity can reduce this length by up to 33% and in some cases labour time was even reduced to less than 4hrs.
Just remember, before starting any exercise program, especially whilst pregnant, it is important to do so safely and in consultation with your GP or Obstetrician, and choosing a Personal Trainer that specialises in prenatal exercises like our Trainers at Vision.
Being pregnant is one of the most exciting moments in a women's life where you should feel empowered, strong and confident so you can focus on other important things.
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
