Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy

Studies show that exercising during pregnancy brings many benefits to baby and mom. Children of exercisers are more intelligent than their peers and their moms enjoy a quicker recovery, fewer complications and easier deliveries according to the American journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the journal of Pediatrics. "Working out still builds muscle tone and strength during pregnancy," said Holly Little, chief pregnancy fitness coach at BabyFit.com. "But women are also gaining the benefits of better sleep, stronger self esteem, and it easier for them to get back in shape after the baby is born." Pregnancy exercise has a growing number of studies stating its benefits including:

• Smarter Babies: One study found that the children of the 20 women who continued to exercise through pregnancy all had significantly higher scores on oral language and general intelligence tests (journal of Pediatrics, 1996).
• Shorter Labors, Fewer C-sections: The same study also discovered that the exercising women's active labor was two hours shorter and the incidence of operative delivery was reduced from 48 to 14 percent.
• Happier Moms: Women who exercised regularly during their pregnancies reported less depression, daily hassles and pregnancy-specific stress in the first and second trimesters (journal of Psychosomatic Obstetric and Gynecology, 2003). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists add that return to physical activity after pregnancy has been associated with decreased incidence of postpartum depression.
• Quicker Recoveries: Exercising during pregnancy can not only lead to a quicker recovery, but a quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight as well according to studies by James Clapp III, M.D. of Case Western Reserve University.

"Healthy moms make healthy babies," Little added. "BabyFit is here as a resource to help pregnant women get answers to their fitness and nutrition questions. We are a 'pregnancy personal trainer,' helping them develop a safe exercise program they can enjoy during each phase of pregnancy." BabyFit.com Pregnancy Exercise