Originally published July 30 2005
Fitness during pregnancy is important
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Exercise is proving to curb traditional pregnancy side affects, reports BabyFit.com.
Just decades ago, pregnant women were encouraged to stay off their feet and avoid physical activity.
"For a long time, people were told not to move around; that it was bad for baby," says Christie Hadley, PR coordinator and respite expert for Babyfit.com, an international pregnancy fitness Web site.
"Women [still] don't know what they should or should not be doing," says Carmela Cattuti, LPN, owner of Yoga for Pregnancy and Fitness in Boston.
Pregnancy fitness may be a new trend, but it's becoming increasingly popular among pregnant women and their health care providers.
With the help of research and surveys, more and more moms-to-be are turning to exercise to curb pregnancy side effects, ensure a healthier pregnancy and baby, help post-pregnancy weight loss, and generally help them feel better during the pregnancy.
"We now know that by getting regular exercise, you can actually help baby grow," Hadley says.
"For mom-to-be, it can help with all of the discomforts, quiet the mind, and genuinely help you feel and sleep better."
Exercise may also relieve anxieties about the impending birth and parenting responsibilities; in addition, it has been proven to help curb depression and provide more energy.
"You can do squats, presses, and can also [use it to] strengthen abdominal muscles."
With cardio, the key is to go for low impact and high results, such as power walking, leisurely swimming and gentle jogging.
"Avoid raising your body temperature too high and keep your pulse below 140, getting into the fat burning zone between 121 and 125," Hadley advises.
It's precisely those loose joints that warrant stretching before and after each workout.
Try two to three stretches for each muscle group before exercising and eight to ten minutes of stretching afterwards to get your heart rate down.
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