How To Exercise During Pregnancy

It's hard enough getting to classes when there is just one of you, but if there are two of you working out it can get quite tricky! Not to mention you will be worried about pushing yourself or doing exercises which may harm the baby.

Carrying a baby and keeping your fitness levels up is a very big responsibility and you need to take care of the life inside you. But studies have also shown that doing exercise throughout pregnancy can lead to an easier birth, lower risk of postnatal depression, better sleep, more energy and even less lower back pain. But the exercise has to be safe.

1. Take things easy. Naturally we want to push ourselves during exercise but there is a time and a place to do this and being pregnant is not one of those times. Move safely and listen to your PT or fitness instructor - this isn't about losing weight, it's about keeping healthy.

2. Stay away from high impact exercise. Extreme sports or classes which involve high impact need to be avoided - remember to keep the baby safe.

3. Work on your posture. Talk to your PT about exercises to help improve your posture and keep your lower back strong during pregnancy. One way to do this is to take a brisk walk in the park on a sunny day! Or practice yoga - not only will it keep your body strong, but it will also relax you.

4. Always listen to your body. If you're not feeling up for exercise - don't do it. If you're craving light exercise like a walk or yoga, take it easy and go for it. You know yourself better than anyone else and you will know when to rest and when to move.

Remember that exercise during pregnancy is not for losing weight - it's all about keeping healthy, both you and your baby. There will be plenty of time to get back in shape after the birth!