If it's about raising kids... it's here! UK online parenting magazine
If it's about raising kids... it's here! UK online parenting magazine

Home
Join for free!
Log In/Out
What's New?
First Time Here?
How Do I?
Weekly Newsletter
Pregnancy & Birth
0-1 Years
1-4 Years
4-9 Years
9-13 Years
13+ Years
News
Features
Ask Our Experts
Reviews
Competitions
Talk!
Members' Tips
Family Finance
Food & Nutrition
Celebrity Parents
Back To The Table
Your Family Year
Health
Child Development
Child Safety
Travel
Education
Motoring
Brothers & Sisters
Parenting Skills
Coupons & Offers
Support Orgs.
Links
About Us
Advertising
Research
Work For Us
Contact Us
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
raisingkids newsfeed RK Newsfeed

Exercise During Pregnancy

woman swimmingNo matter what your usual lifestyle habits, pregnancy is definitely the time to make taking care of yourself physically one of your main priorities.

Staying Fit
Don't make the mistake that some expectant mothers do, that pregnancy is a time to slob out, eat for three and generally let yourself go.

Regular exercise during pregnancy has multiple benefits for you and your baby. It prepares your body for birth, increasing your chances of an uncomplicated 'easy' labour by strengthening your muscles, improving your stamina and increasing your blood circulation. It also helps you to shed those extra pounds and get your old body back after the birth.

Everything In Moderation
Don't do anything too arduous, especially in the first trimester when miscarriage is still a real risk, but try swimming and brisk walking instead and in moderate amounts.

Back To Back
Backache is the bane of many a pregnant woman's life, as pregnancy hormones stretch and soften ligaments increasing the likelihood of strains and pains.

A good posture will almost always help to reduce this. Repeat this drill as often as you can remember to until it becomes second nature.

Drop and relax your shoulders
Tuck in your buttocks and straighten your back
Lengthen your neck and raise your head as if the top of your crown is being raised towards the ceiling.

Remember to keep a good posture when sitting down too, and let the back of the chair support your back properly, and avoid hunching over things like washing-up as it’s easy to forget your posture when you’re concentrating on something else. It is also particularly important to keep your back straight when lifting things. Do this by squatting down rather than bending over.

Join Our Baby Club!
Use the drop-down menu below to go to our forums, where you can find someone at exactly the same stage of pregnancy as you.



Like our site?

  Join Now!
  Email A Friend
  Link To Us!

Forgotten Your
Username Or
Password?

Print-Friendly

Advertise with us


T&C | Privacy | Contact Us | feedback@raisingkids.co.uk | Home | Join for free!