General tips

Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits. However, before you begin an exercise routine, especially if you did not exercise regularly before you became pregnant, you should consult your doctor. If you have been exercising regularly before, you should be able to continue, but you may have to modify your routine to avoid any complications. Hence, it’s always wise to discuss your activities with your doctor or midwife to determine what is safe and what is not.

Pregnancy exercises can include pregnancy yoga, walking, pregnancy Pilates, swimming and many sports activities that do not put you at risk for contact injuries or over-exertion.

Some tips to keep you on the right track include:

  1. It’s always a good idea to warm up before you begin stretching out your muscles and make sure that you are hydrated. Remember to have a cool down period after the exercise.

  2. You should participate in some form of physical activity each day, even if it includes only a walk. The benefits are numerous.

  3. During hot weather, avoid doing strenuous exercises. Don’t overdo and remember that if you can’t talk normally during exercise, then you are doing too much.

  4. Stay hydrated; your body needs to have proper fluid levels to maintain the health of both you and your baby.

  5. If you sign up for a pregnancy yoga class or a pregnancy Pilates class, be sure that the instructors have been trained to work with pregnant women.

  6. One of the best exercises that you can do during pregnancy is swimming, especially as your pregnancy progresses and your belly grows larger. Swimming can help relieve stress and give you the feeling of weightlessness.

Listen to your doctor and be sure that he approves your exercise routine before you begin.