Preggsercise – Exercising for the Pregnant Woman
Pregnant women often neglect to exercise. This is especially true of women who didn’t exercise consistently before becoming pregnant. Some are even afraid that exercising could harm their baby and maybe even lead to miscarriage. However, light, regular exercise will help to improve your health and the health of your baby. You don’t need to be sweating and red-faced to consider an activity exercise. Appropriate exercises for pregnant women are simple, easy, and helpful for mother and baby alike. If you’re pregnant, you’ll find that a little light exercise can help you to bear your pregnancy better and even ease your delivery.
When doing pregnancy exercises, take it really easy. You’re just trying to keep your muscles toned so that you can use them with maximum efficiency when you need them most. Don’t overexert yourself; the point isn’t to keep from gaining pregnancy weight; the point is to make sure that you and your baby have the best, healthiest pregnancy. Always consult your doctor before starting exercises and ask him or her what the best approach and exercises are for you. Obviously, your doctor will know more about your specific situation and needs than an internet article meant to provide general information.
One excellent exercise for pregnant women is the pelvic tilt. To execute it, lie on your back and bend your knees. Inhale, and tighten your abdominal and gluteus muscles. Flatten the curve of your lower back so that it touches the floor, allowing your pelvis to tilt up. Hold for a five-second exhale, and then release. Repeat it a few times. This exercise is great for strengthening your abs and back muscles, which will keep them from feeling strained or tired. It’ll also improve your posture, which will in turn improve your breathing, which means more oxygen for your baby.
Other helpful exercises include the infamous Kegel exercises. These exercises are designed to strengthen your pubococcygeal, or PC, muscle. Your PC muscle is the muscle that stops and starts your urine flow. Try stopping and restarting your flow so that you can isolate the muscle. Once you know which one it is, try squeezing and releasing ten times for five seconds, three times a day. Also, try flutter exercises: squeezing and releasing as quickly as you can. These exercises will prevent hemorrhoids, help your labor along, help you to recover more quickly after, and support your baby in the womb. These are just a few of the simple exercises you can do to maintain your health during your pregnancy.
