Five Reasons to Plan an Active Pregnancy
I love all of my clients but I must admit my pregnant clients are particularly special. I really enjoyed having a personal trainer through my two pregnancies and it’s lovely to accompany other women down that path.
Staying active and mobile during pregnancy has many positive aspects for baby and Mum. It’s no time to be confined to the couch, the latest guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urge all healthy pregnant women to take up some form of exercise even if they have previously been inactive.
The first main benefit is a healthy pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who exercise during pregnancy are more likely to have healthier weight gain, reduced risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, shorter labour and a faster recovery.
The second benefit is a more comfortable pregnancy. Nobody tells you in advance that pregnancy is so much more than a bump, it’s a whole pile of discomforts! Staying active and keeping within a healthy weight range addresses the muscle imbalances and structural changes. These contribute to lower back pain during pregnancy and cause issues after pregnancy. Staying strong and active reduces the risk of back pain that plagues many pregnancies. Exercise can also help digestive health which can become a challenge as you grow.
The third benefit is a healthy baby. Exercise in pregnancy provides the child with long term health advantages in terms of body composition. You can positively affect your child’s metabolic rate for the rest of their life or curse them with a lifelong difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
The forth benefit is the ability to return to healthy weight range after pregnancy. At the time of our lives we’re having children we’re already becoming vulnerable to weight gain because of the age-related reduction in lean muscle mass reducing metabolic rate. Lean muscle mass inevitably reduces further during pregnancy. Even if you’re fit you’ll need to slow down a little as the body directs it’s resources into growing a little human.
As well as the physical benefits of keeping active there are lots of psychological benefits. Pregnancy is a time of change and transition which can be unsettling. Keeping up fitness and strength improves confidence and the endorphins lift your mood.
The benefits of being fit in pregnancy are so well recognized that increasing numbers of clients are coming to me prior to being pregnant, wanting to be fit at the front end. Check out my tips on how to exercise safely through pregnancy
Staying active and mobile during pregnancy has many positive aspects for baby and Mum. It’s no time to be confined to the couch, the latest guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urge all healthy pregnant women to take up some form of exercise even if they have previously been inactive.
The first main benefit is a healthy pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who exercise during pregnancy are more likely to have healthier weight gain, reduced risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, shorter labour and a faster recovery.
The second benefit is a more comfortable pregnancy. Nobody tells you in advance that pregnancy is so much more than a bump, it’s a whole pile of discomforts! Staying active and keeping within a healthy weight range addresses the muscle imbalances and structural changes. These contribute to lower back pain during pregnancy and cause issues after pregnancy. Staying strong and active reduces the risk of back pain that plagues many pregnancies. Exercise can also help digestive health which can become a challenge as you grow.
The third benefit is a healthy baby. Exercise in pregnancy provides the child with long term health advantages in terms of body composition. You can positively affect your child’s metabolic rate for the rest of their life or curse them with a lifelong difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
The forth benefit is the ability to return to healthy weight range after pregnancy. At the time of our lives we’re having children we’re already becoming vulnerable to weight gain because of the age-related reduction in lean muscle mass reducing metabolic rate. Lean muscle mass inevitably reduces further during pregnancy. Even if you’re fit you’ll need to slow down a little as the body directs it’s resources into growing a little human.
As well as the physical benefits of keeping active there are lots of psychological benefits. Pregnancy is a time of change and transition which can be unsettling. Keeping up fitness and strength improves confidence and the endorphins lift your mood.
The benefits of being fit in pregnancy are so well recognized that increasing numbers of clients are coming to me prior to being pregnant, wanting to be fit at the front end. Check out my tips on how to exercise safely through pregnancy