Ask A Personal Trainer: Exercising while Pregnant

Bio:  Julie R. is an ACE certified personal trainer. Her goal is to offer simple and effective advice to help inspire others to live an active and healthy life. She works and lives in Boston, MA with her husband and baby girl.

Exercising while Pregnant

With another bun in the oven, I thought it would be a good time to discuss working out while pregnant. With my first pregnancy, I worked out up until the day before delivering. I did modify my workouts as my belly grew, but I found I felt much better on the days I worked out, than on my off days. I ended up having a c-section, and I attribute a lot of my ease in recovery to being fit and healthy during my pregnancy.

According the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) there are many advantages to exercising while pregnant.
· Helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling
· May help to prevent or treat gestational diabetes
· Increases your energy
· Improves your mood
· Improves your posture
· Promotes muscle tone, strength and endurance
· Helps you sleep better

Try getting 30 minutes of exercise a day. Some easy and safe exercises include walking, prenatal yoga, and swimming. If you were a runner prior to pregnancy it is safe to continue running. I would also recommend a strength training routine. If you have never strength trained, book an appointment with a personal trainer or try a prenatal strength training DVD. Remember to listen to your body, if something doesn’t feel comfortable, stop.

As always, you want to get clearance from your care provider before beginning any exercise routine, and especially before beginning one while your pregnant.

Good Luck!

*Always consult your physician or health care provider before beginning any nutrition or exercise program.

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