Pregnant & Healthy
Jennifer’s experience.
Pregnancy was really the first time in my life where I was “out of shape.” From the time I was about five months pregnant to about five months after my son was born, my normal exercise routine fell by the wayside. But I tried to do whatever I could. Swimming was a really helpful, low-impact exercise that I could keep up through most of the pregnancy. My job sort of became my exercise, too. I did yoga for about 40 minutes before every game, then did my usual pacing of the sidelines.
It was a long road back to feeling really fit, but I set a goal for myself (completing a mini triathlon in four months). I started by swimming and doing yoga a couple days a week. I also put Holden in a snuggly and walked to the store instead of driving. I couldn’t carry much on the way back, but it was uphill and good exercise.
To get back into running shape, I started with intervals of jogging five minutes and walking two minutes. For someone who had always been in shape, it was tough. By the second week, I was able to jog twenty minutes without stopping. I just focused on the improvements, and I was able to do the mini triathlon four months after giving birth.
The important thing is to just take it day by day, step by step. Enjoy the small accomplishments, and sooner than you know it, you’ll have achieved your goal.
General tips
Manipulate your mood.
Exercise is a great way to keep your spirits up at any time in your life, but it’s especially helpful during and after pregnancy. Research even shows that it can help with post-partum depression.
Don’t overdo it.
While pregnant, avoid weight-bearing exercises or ones that require acute balance. After pregnancy, many women go all out right away. Not only does this lead to frustration and possible injury setbacks, it can also lead to incontinence problems and prolonged back pain. Most importantly, make sure you get advice from your doctor before performing any exercise during pregnancy.
Try a water workout.
One way to keep exercising without the stress on your body is to swim or do exercises in the water. It’s a great way to stay in shape without getting bent out of shape.
Get a tiny workout partner.
After you give birth, spending time with your baby becomes your number one priority. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have other priorities, too. There are innovative exercise programs out there that you can perform while bonding with your baby. And after 12 months, you can invest in a jogging stroller, too.
Get some expert advice.
Your doctor can give you some advice on exercising during and after pregnancy. Also, there are plenty of good websites with advice for you.
During Your Pregnancy: Spotlight on Exercise
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_515.asp
Fitness During Pregnancy
http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/pregnancyfitness/index
Get Moving! Mom and Baby Exercise
http://www.huggieshappybaby.com/info/bow/article.aspx?article_id=1573
Post-Pregnancy Fitness Overview
http://babyfit.com/post-pregnancy-fitness-overview.asp
Pregnant Women Don’t Get Enough Exercise
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/115/111591.htm
This information is intended for general guidance only. As everyone's health needs are different, we strongly recommend that you consult with your physician prior to incorporating a new dietary or exercise program.
