Exercising During Pregnancy
October 30, 2009
Exercising during pregnancy is actually beneficial than what was thought before. Research has shown that light to moderate exercise during pregnancy is beneficial for both baby and mother.
Most mothers feel pain and most importantly the angst during pregnancy. Exercise is a sure-shot way to release endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurochemicals that get released in the brain during exercise. Endorphins have analgesic properties, or in other words they help to alleviate pain.
Pregnancy is a time when the pregnant body undergoes lot of changes. Due to the weight carrying associated with it, pregnant mothers often complain of back pain, pain in the thighs, swelling in the thighs etc. Due to minimal activity during this time, fat gets accumulated in areas such as thighs and hips. This leads to a heavier body, and related ailments, like shoulder-pain, back spasms etc.
To sum-up, the following are the benefits of exercising during pregnancy:
- Exercise releases pain and angst alleviating neurochemicals called endorphins in the body. These neurochemicals increase your energy levels, and make you livelier.
- You will rest well and get sound sleep. Exercise will make your body need rest, and you will not have to force yourself into resting or sleeping.
- Exercise will keep you in shape during pregnancy.
- During pregnancy, a lot of metabolic disorder is created due to reduced physical activity. Exercise will increase your metabolic activity and prevent gastric problems.
- Exercise will improve the blood circulation in your body, and help you retain your skin tone.
Safe exercises
- Low intensity aerobic exercises are good. Brisk walking is recommended. As you near your delivery date, try to walk more carefully, adding more fluidity to your movements.
- If you are fed-up with the feeling of carrying ‘weight’, you can try to get into a pool, and float. You can also do some light swimming.
Dangerous exercises
- Running
- Contact sports like basketball, soccer
- Exercises like leg lifts that involve lying on your stomach or back.
- Trekking, climbing
- Underwater sports



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