Keeping Fit While Pregnant
Staying fit during pregnancy helps keep up your energy level, controls your weight gain so it doesn’t become excessive, and helps build up the stamina you’ll need for childbirth and post-delivery recovery. What matters is that you choose a type of exercise that you enjoy and that you’ll stick with. If you have any doubt about whether a certain form of exercise is right for you, be sure to check with your doctor!
Safe exercises
- Brisk walking
- Low-impact aerobics
- Stationary cycling
- Swimming or water aerobics
Acceptable exercises
- Racket sports
- Cross-country skiing
- Golf
- Weight training
- Bowling
- Hiking
- Jogging
High-risk exercises:
- Sail boarding
- Downhill skiing
- Surfing
- Horseback riding
- Scuba diving
- Water skiing
Some things to keep in mind, regardless of how you choose to exercise:
Drink water: Lots of it.
Wear an appropriate bra.
Stop if you feel very tired, dizzy, or nauseated.
Warm up and cool down.
DON’T exercise in extreme heat or humidity.
DON’T exercise if you become short of breath.
DON’T use a hot tub or sauna.
DON’T exercise while lying on your back after your third month.
