One of the best things you can do to prepare for pregnancy is start exercising regularly. You don’t have to join the Boston Marathon, but even walking around the block a few times per week will help tone and condition your body and help you prepare for the journey ahead.
Women who regularly engage in some form of exercise before and during pregnancy are more likely to experience quicker and less problematic labors. That is a good enough reason in and of itself to start exercising as soon as you can.
The other important thing you need to do during your pregnancy is make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. Good prenatal care throughout your pregnancy is essential for maintaining a happy and healthy pregnancy. If you are not yet pregnant but thinking about becoming pregnant, many practitioners recommend scheduling a visit so they can review your health history for you and help overcome any potential barriers to your fertility.
Your healthcare provider can also set you up on a regimen of prenatal vitamins, and help you understand your cycle better so you know the times of the month you are most likely to get pregnant.
Most practitioners will schedule your first visit between 8-11 weeks if you are having a normal, low risk pregnancy. If you aren’t sure when you became pregnant, you should consider scheduling an appointment with your provider right away to ensure that everything is going along as it should and that you have no risk factors for possible complications.
Pregnancy Exercise First Trimester
Throughout the years research has shifted drastically regarding whether or not women should exercise during pregnancy. A few decades ago it was thought that only very moderate exercise should occur during pregnancy; women were often though to be in a very "delicate" state and the less exertion the better. In recent years, however, many studies have been conducted to determine what is best for mom and baby. Studies have shown that regular physical exercise is very good for both mother and baby's health while pregnant.
The National Institute of Child Health funded a recent, large scale study to determine the effects of exercise during pregnancy on health for both mother and fetus. The results were overwhelming; regular physical exercise, both before conception and during pregnancy, has great health benefits for both mother and child.
It was found that the risk for gestational diabetes was reduced by 81% in women who exercised regularly during pregnancy compared with women who reported minimal exertion. Those who reported minimal exertion were 59% less likely to develop it than women who reported little or no exertion throughout their pregnancy.
Another health risk common to pregnant women is high blood pressure, or preeclampsia. There have been startling results that women with elevated regular exertion greatly lessened their chances of developing this disorder. Based on the research it was found that women who did just moderate exercise every day, such as walking or stair climbing previous to conception and for the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, greatly lessened their chances of high blood pressure.
A recent study showed a significant correlation between mothers who exercised regularly just before and during pregnancy with the health of their babies at birth in comparison to those babies whose mother's did not exercise regularly. So for the health of both mother and baby, regular exercise during pregnancy is a good idea, though before starting any exercise regime a woman should always consult with her doctor about any medical conditions that may be present.
There are many options available for expectant moms looking to keep in shape while pregnant. Many classes are available that cater solely to the pregnant mommy, and even more videos are available to allow the flexibility and privacy of exercising in your own home. The most popular exercise often chosen by women who are pregnant is regular walking. Three to four times a week for twenty minutes can have great effects on both physical and mental health.
Both Beverley Brooke & Abhishek Agarwal are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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