Try some exercise. In my Fit and Fabulous Pregnancy exercise program I will show you what to expect and explain the benefits of exercising during this extremely important time in your life. You will progress through approximately 40 weeks gestational period from conception to delivery. This time is broken down into three main subdivisions, each about 14 weeks long; the first, second, and third trimesters. Each one of these trimesters brings new, exciting, and sometimes difficult changes that can affect your body. This doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t workout, it just means you must follow proper guidelines in each trimester to prevent any major problems and keep both you and your baby healthy and fit! If you are in  my Fit and Fabulous Pregnancy exercise program I will be there to assist you every step of the way. Whenever you exercise during pregnancy be sure to use common sense. Don’t work out when you are feeling overly tired, and stop if you feel any pain or when you begin to feel at all fatigued, dizzy, or short of breath! Be sure to drink plenty of water, and lower weight, sets, or repetitions, when you need to. 

Rebecca Davison, CPT

www.fitandfabulouspregnancy.com

According to the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) there is not data to

indicate that pregnant women should limit exercise intensity and lower target heart rate because of potential

adverse effects.  The following recommendations can be made for

those women who do NOT have any additional risk factors for adverse maternal or perinatal outcome:

During pregnancy, women can exercise and will gain health benefits from mild to moderate physical activity.

Regular exercise (at least three times per week) is better than intermittent activity.  Pre Natal women should be

aware that they will have a decrease in oxygen available for exercise during pregnancy. Women also should modify

the intensity of their exercise according to maternal symptoms and how they are feeling.

Pregnant women should stop exercising when they are fatigued and not exercise to exhaustion. Weightbearing

exercises are also good as long as they are at relatively low intensities.

Loss of balance during pregnancy can be detrimental to maternal or fetal well being through a fall, especially

in the third trimester.  Any type of exercise involving the potential for even mild abdominal trauma should be

avoided.  Pregnancy requires an additional 300 calories in order to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Women who

exercise should be particularly careful to ensure an adequate diet. Pregnant women who exercise during pregnancy

should be careful of heat and dissipate it by ensuring adequate hydration, appropriate clothing, and optimal

environmental surroundings during exercise.  Many of the physiologic and morphologic changes of pregnancy

persist 4 to 6 weeks postpartum so pre-pregnancy exercise routines should be resumed gradually based on a

woman’s physical capability. ACOG suggests that pregnant women avoid any activity that could lead to

contact or falling.  Remember that pregnancy alters your center of gravity and makes you less coordinated and more

likely to fall even when you are doing things you are used to doing.

Rebecca Davison, CPT 

www.fitandfabulouspregnancy.com