Pregnancy is a time when a lot of women tend to feel fat. You are gaining weight, feeling fatigued and less active than you ever have been. A healthy, doctor approved exercise plan can help by boosting energy, self-esteem, and even prepare you for an easier childbirth. Here, we will give you some exercise tips that will keep you fit and lift your spirits!
Create a birth plan. Having a written document that expresses your wishes for your delivery will help the medical professionals involved understand what you want your experience to be like. Include things like who should be present at the birth and what procedures you want to stay away from during the delivery.
Quit smoking as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant, and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. The dangers of cigarette smoke to your baby are so extensive that it is absolutely worth the stress of trying to quit during your pregnancy. The sooner you quit the less extensive the damage will be.
If you are having a hard time getting pregnant, make sure you visit your doctor and have him or her run tests. There are many reasons that you may not being pregnant, some of which can be treated. Also, make sure your partner is tested, as the problem could be with him or his sperm.
Keeping a food diary will help you to remember to eat well and keep up with all the vitamins that you need. You will also be able to see if you are not feeling well, that there may be some type of food you are eating that may be triggering that reaction.
When you find out you are pregnant the first thing you want to do is go to see the doctor, especially if you feel you have found out late in the pregnancy. This will make sure the doctor has a good look at your health and the child’s health and gets you on a program to fit the two of you best.
As your pregnancy proceeds, take up swimming as a very healthy exercise. Swimming allows your body to relax from the stress of carrying all the extra weight and allows you to work muscles you would not be able to otherwise. You will feel weightless in the water and your aches should be relieved for a moment.
Make sure that you communicate with your partner (if you have one) about your feelings and your needs. You may know that you need to be touched or loved more often to feel supported, but they don’t. You have to tell them what you need before you can expect to receive it.
Read other peoples birth stories. This will let you see what it is really like, and you will be able to gain some inside tips that will help. People may write about what not to do, and you will benefit learning from their mistakes. You may also learn some positive things to do that you haven’t thought of.
When trying to perform kick counts late in pregnancy, your previously active baby may occasionally scare you with fewer movements than normal. If you are concerned, try drinking a caffeinated soda or something with a bit of sugar in it. Often, this is enough to wake up your baby and jump-start his or her movements again.
As you can see, there are many benefits that a pregnant woman can get from a healthy exercise plan. You will see a difference in your body, mind and spirit, as you get stronger and healthier. As an added bonus, childbirth is much easier for a woman who stays physically fit during pregnancy!