All of these changes in the female body during pregnancy are important and play roles for the baby's arrival.
In the past, it was believed that exercise would harm a developing baby and that as much rest as possible was required for the fetus to grow. That might be still true depending on your age, health and physical condition; as women become pregnant in older age, pregnancies may be more difficult than for women who are younger.
However, for many women it has been shown that exercise during pregnancy can enhance energy levels, self-esteem and mood, while at the same time reducing some of the physical discomforts of pregnancy. A speedier recovery after delivery and a quicker return to the pre-pregnant state have also been documented. And studies have shown that the IQ of children from women who are active during pregnancy tend to be higher then those of children of nonactive women.
It is also important to remember that pregnant women may have the tendency to overindulge in foods because of food cravings caused by hormonal changes. This can cause fat tissue gain, which can be controlled through exercise.
With this in mind, the instructions from a personal trainer can have positive influences on a pregnant woman's psychological, as well as physical, preparation for childbirth. Yet it is important to keep a realistic perspective on the role that exercise will have.
And of course, before any exercise program during pregnancy, any woman should check in with her doctor to receive an OK to start, to continue or to stop their program -- all of which depends on age, health and overall physical condition and injuries.
Common sense is the best approach while pregnant during exercise. Here are some general guidelines to consider for an exercise program:
It would be wise to start exercising even before your pregnancy in order to establish baseline levels with which you can work once you do get pregnant. It would be best to work with a heart rate monitor to find out your maximum heart rate, your resting heart rate and your heart rate recovery time for purposes of comparison and tracking your progress. Keep in mind that your resting heart rate increases during pregnancy. Also, women who exercise and then become pregnant are used to the feeling of intense workouts versus women who have never exercised. Already pregnant? Pay attention to your body when you work out; exercising just to the point of being a bit out of breath or having a flushed complexion will tell you that you are working at a good indication of intensity.
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