Do you want to know the absolute best thing I did during 3 out of 4 of my pregnancies that made my pregnancies and recovery so much easier? The answer is simple, exercise! Not just any exercise, but workouts designed specifically for women during pregnancy.
During my first pregnancy I worked full time, in a not extremely active environment. Then I would come home and sit around most of the time. At that time it was still a popular belief that pregnant women shouldn’t do more than they have to, or put any extra strain on their bodies because it might harm them or their unborn babies. Not being a doctor, I went along with this notion. But in theory, does that really make sense? Considering what you’re about to go through, carrying all that extra weight around for all that time and then going through labor (which is pretty much the equivalent of running a marathon). This does not seem to be the time to become a couch potato.
Do you think marathon runners start spending more time relaxing when they know they have a race in the near future? I’ve never run a marathon myself, but I’m thinking, no. So, it makes sense that you should be preparing your body for the changes and extra strain on your body that come with pregnancy, right?
So, like I said before, I did not prepare myself very well physically for my first pregnancy and I could definitely see and feel the difference between that pregnancy and my following three, when I knew better than to just relax. During my first pregnancy I had all kinds of body aches. I had leg swelling, high blood pressure, exhaustion, and I felt like I had been hit by a truck and needed to sleep for a few days after labor. Not how you want to feel, especially when you have a new baby to take care of. I didn’t have too much trouble taking off the baby weight afterwards, most likely due to breastfeeding, but I had lost a lot of muscle tone (picture thin and saggy). Also, I didn’t have the strength and energy that I had before the pregnancy.
What I Changed for my 2nd Pregnancy and beyond
By the time I was ready to have my second baby I had learned a lot about what is actually, not just safe, but beneficial during pregnancy. I had since acquired my certification as a personal trainer and had watched a group fitness instructor teach a high intensity kickboxing class through the end of her pregnancy. I couldn’t believe she was still bouncing around at 8 1/2 months pregnant. That encouraged me to obtain my certification in pre/postnatal exercise. I wanted to be able to help other pregnant women be healthier and better prepared during their pregnancies as well. If only I had had this knowledge the first time around.
Exercising during pregnancy has so many benefits for you and your baby to be. You will have more energy, feel better, lower blood pressure, and have more strength, flexibility, and endurance by the time labor comes. Studies have also shown that babies born to mother’s that exercised are healthier.
I didn’t have any of the complications from my first pregnancy (extra weight gain, swelling, high blood pressure, etc.) with any of my other three pregnancies, during which I exercised. I felt stronger and more energetic than the first time around and I didn’t even need an epidural during any of the other labors. Also, I did not feel like a truck just hit me afterwards. Actually, I was a little antsy having to lay in a bed for an extended time. I wasn’t worn out and I wasn’t in too much pain. I was ready to move around a lot quicker than the first time.
If you have a normal, healthy pregnancy without any expected complications you should definitely be exercising during your pregnancies. I am not a doctor and do not know everyone’s personal circumstances, so you should definitely discuss your workout plan with your doctor beforehand. I’m hoping most doctors have come to realize the importance of staying active during pregnancy, since that has not always been the case.
How to Exercise during Pregnancy
I talked about pregnancy and labor comparing it to running a marathon, but that doesn’t mean you have to train for a marathon while you’re pregnant of course. Now is not the time to start some intense exercise program. Depending on how active you were before, your plan will be different. If you did not exercise before, you’ll want to start out gradually. Moderate exercisers can probably keep it up with just a few tweaks needed for your changing body. If you are already participating in intense workouts, you may just need to tone it down and modify as the pregnancy progresses. Add some exercises and stretches specifically designed to enhance and prepare your body for an easier experience.
I hope sharing my experiences has been helpful to you. If you have any questions about exercising during or after pregnancy or have an inspiring story of your own, please share it.
