It may be tempting to sit back and relax for nine months as you grow a baby inside you, but exercising while pregnant has many benefits. Exercising during pregnancy can help with many of the discomforts that come with being pregnant, and it can even help prepare your body for labor and delivery.
Unless you’re experiencing complications, sitting around while your pregnant is not recommended. In fact, even if you aren’t normally an active person, pregnancy is a good time to become one. Exercising during pregnancy can reduce backaches, constipation, and swelling. It can also improve your mood, help you sleep, and promote muscle tone and endurance. A regular exercise routine can also potentially lower the risk of gestational diabetes, shorten labor, and reduced the risk of needing a C-section.
A healthy pregnant woman needs at least 2 ½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week. Aerobic exercise is defined as exercise that makes you breathe faster and deeper and increases your heart rate. Moderate-intensity usually means active enough to sweat and increase your heart rate, but you should be able to talk while doing the activity.
Most exercises are safe to do during pregnancy, but some of the best exercises are walking, swimming and water workouts, yoga and pilates, and low-impact aerobics. If you enjoy biking, riding a stationary bike can be a safe alternative to writing a regular bike because you are less likely to fall off as your belly grows. Strength training is also okay and can help you build muscle and strength in your bones, but it’s important not to lift too heavy.
Pregnancy is a good time to start being active, even if you haven’t been active before. When exercising, it’s important to fuel your body properly with water and high-quality snacks, such as Jawbox Jerky, which contains 16 grams of protein with only three carbs. A snack like Jawbox Jerky can keep you full for the full duration of your exercise.