Exercise While Pregnant - Are You Doing This 1 Vital Pregnancy Exercise?

It doesn't matter if you start exercising during your pregnancy when you’re 3 weeks or 36 weeks pregnant, the important thing is that you begin to exercise while pregnant as soon as you can.(It is vital that you check with your doctor to ensure that any exercise you undertake during your pregnancy is safe for both you and your baby!) When I talk about exercising while pregnant, I’m not referring to high intensity cardio exercises, instead exercise during pregnancy is about simple, but effective exercises that will keep you fit throughout your pregnancy, delivery and post-partum recovery. The single most important exercise for pregnancy you must begin to do today is the KEGEL. What are Kegels and why are they the number 1 most important pregnancy exercise? Kegels are contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. Kegels help keep your pelvic floor muscles TONED and TIGHT, meaning that you will have a more comfortable, stable pregnancy, easier birth and quicker recovery after you give birth. It is so vital to exercise your pelvic floor muscles because these are the muscles that support your baby's weight during pregnancy, that help push your baby out during birth and that assist you in bladder control at all times. Because your pelvic floor muscles will naturally weaken from the increasing weight of your baby during pregnancy, keeping them strong means that your will be LESS LIKELY to: tear your perineum during labour(the skin between the vagina and anus), or need an episiotomy (a surgical insicion made into the vagina) during delivery, develop hemorrhoids, or have urine leakage when you sneeze or cough. You will also be MORE likely to have an EASIER birth! How do I 'do' Kegels? Exercise the pelvic floor by standing upright, and imagine that you are contracting your vagina up towards your belly button (this is a Kegel). Vary your pelvic floor exercise by alternating between sort and long contractions. Kegels are definitely the most important pregnancy exercise, but an interesting thing I learned is that KEGELS are not the only pelvic floor strengthening exercise you need to do. It is a common misunderstanding that you ONLY focus on squeezing the inner muscles of your vagina, however, you also have to squeeze your anal muscle, better known as your “fart” muscle, to strengthen your pelvic floor. Appologies for the graphic nature of this description, but it is vitally important that you understand what Kegels are and why you should perform them. To find out about the other vital pregnancy exercises that you should be doing to keep you fit for your pregnancy, delivery and post-pregnancy recovery, check out the exercise while pregnantPage at The Online Pregnancy Guide.