While pregnant, fitness should be a consideration for both your health and the health of your baby. By implementing a fitness regimen during your pregnancy you'll have a jump on getting to your pre-baby weight and helping to make sure that you have an easier labor and delivery.
As your pregnancy progresses, your stomach is obviously going to become larger which can make some exercises not only difficult but sometimes dangerous. Your large abdomen can affect your balance and timing, so exercises that are performed in a sitting position are generally best.
Yoga has some routines that are geared specifically for expectant moms and their growing bellies. While being low impact, they help to stretch and strengthen ligaments and muscles that will be affected during the birth process. Getting these muscles in shape will aid in an easier birth.
Swimming is also a great exercise during pregnancy. In addition to being low impact, it is a very accommodating activity when it comes to your growing belly. If you don't have your own pool, join a local club or borrow a pool from a friend. It's a great way to get out and stay active in the later months when many other activities are uncomfortable.
Taking walks are also encouraged during pregnancy. If you have a dog, you and your dog will both enjoy a nice stroll through your neighborhood. This helps with cardio without over doing it and is great for the circulation in your legs when the baby is sitting on major nerves and blood vessels that might make you uncomfortable. Some doctors even encourage walking during the final weeks to encourage the onset of labor if you are over due.
When working out while pregnant, fitness should be your objective. Exercise with the intent of weight loss can be harmful to you and your baby, potentially depriving him or her of needed nutrition. Think of fitness during pregnancy as a maintenance program that will keep you toned and prevent excess weight gain during your pregnancy. Although some weight gain is expected, you should be able to easily get to pre-pregnancy shape if you maintained an exercise program to maintain your level of fitness.
Being fit while pregnant insures that you will have a faster recovery after the baby is born. Most new moms are extremely tired in the first month after birth not only due to the schedule of the new baby, but because they are often physically depleted. If you maintain an exercise program while pregnant, fitness levels after delivery should be fairly close to normal allowing you to enjoy your new family.
The secret to pregnant fitness is to make sure you are following a proper diet and exercise program that is perfectly tailored to meet the needs of expecting moms. The most successful programs make it easy and walk you through a diet and exercise program that will help you to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery, look wonderful during pregnancy, and help you quickly get back to your pre-pregnancy figure. You can see an example of a great pregnancy fitness program at www.HappyMotherAndBaby.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Grace_Addison