Considerations for exercise during pregnancy

Pregnancy brings about numerous changes to your body such as hormonal, metabolic and physical just to name a few. Safe and effective exercise and nutrition provides many foundational benefits to you and your babies development throughout pregnancy and in the postnatal phases of your life. It is important to adapt your exercise regime during pregnancy to accommodate and nurture the changes your body is going through to help you feel strong and energised and help prepare you for the endurance required for birth. 

It is also important that you do make some modifications along the way to protect the future function of your body, I would be a wise choice to make a temporary modification during your pregnancy rather than push through and cause your body injury, strain or complication that may have long term impact on either the rest of your pregnancy, make it harder to recover and/or effect the rest of your life.

Here's some examples of considerations for exercise during pregnancy and why to modify your exercise:

• Be sure to get clearance from your Midwife/Dr before exercising during pregnancy, there are some cases where even Pregnancy safe exercise is not recommended

• Ensure you warm-up and cool down properly for at least five minutes either side of your exercise session being sure to include some moving/dynamic stretches before hand and static stretches to finish off

• Exercise at an intensity that is comfortable for you, so that you are still able to hold a conversation (A maximum intensity of 7-8/10)

• Incorporate deep core (TVA) and pelvic floor exercises to support your posture, reduce aches and pains and maintain optimal health and function of these areas as they are stretched and their function becomes compromised

• Be conscious and strive for optimal posture and alignment

• Include a good balance of strength and mobility as well as endurance to prepare you for birth

• Maintain hydration and ventilation throughout your exercise sessions

• Be consistent but adaptable just like my programs. Adjust your sessions as your body changes, my online pregnancy program will guide you on appropriate adjustments to do to suit each trimester and your ability

If your looking for guidance to really get the most out of your exercise to help keep you strong, function and intentionally prep for birth, you're in the right place, that my speciality. I want for you what I wish I had known about during my first and second pregnancies. For my third pregnancy I had discovered all this and it made a significant difference to my pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery.

If you're ready to Energise your Pregnancy, Prep to go into your birth with confidence then take the step here.