Exercising while pregnant

Many pregnant women forget the importance of exercising, or feel they are too weak and tired to exercise. But unlike many believe, there are many benefits to a good exercise program while pregnant. When exercising, the soon-to-be mom will regain their energy and boost their mood, allowing them to go through their pregnancy more easily. Whether they are pro-athletes or haven't worked out in the last 10 years, there are several advantages to work out while pregnant. It's all hormonal! During the development of the foetus in the uterus, women will notice a fast physical changes. Some changes are fairly obvious, but some changes are less apparant. Increase of hormones such as elastin, estrogen, relaxin and progesterone are important to help soften the connective tissue surrounding the joints. This softening of the connective tissue is important to allow the pelvic joint to expand when the women will give birth to the baby. However, this can also affect other joints in the body (ankles, knees, hips). Moreover, the blood volume will increase from 30 to 50% to help the development of the baby, increasing the heart rate as well. Throughout pregnancy, the pressure caused by the growing size and weight in the uterus can cause stretched and weaker abdominal muscles, resulting in a swayback posture also called hyper-lordosis. Finally, the weight of the growing breasts pull the shoulders forward, resulting in a weakening of the upper back muscles. How can exercising help? Working out will have several benefits on the health of a pregnant women. A work out program will * promote the flow of adrenaline, which in return increases the levels of energy; * reduce the levels of stress, therefore boosting the mood, hence providing a better sleep at night; * facilitate a better weight control. The gain of weight for a pregnant women is normal. But some women can gain excessive weight. The exercise will help maintain a healthier weight gain during pregnancy, also diminishing the risks of gestational diabetes; * also help strengthen the core muscles. This will reduce the back aches and improve the posture, reducing the slouching posture and lordosis; * prevent joints soreness; * Studies have shown that women who exercise during their pregnancy will have easier and a shorter labor. Indeed, exercising strenghten the muscles and the heart, which can greatly ease labor and delivery; * help reduce constipation and bloating by (accelerating the speed of bowel movements; * allow for a faster recovery postpartum. Working out while pregnant has many benefits for all pregnant women. It will allow them to feel more healthy, more energetic, more positive, control their weight more easily and regain to their pre-pregnant body faster and easier. There are several work out programs specially designed for the mom-to-be, including water fitness programs, body ball programs and much more. The combination of an exercise program with a healthy meal plan is best. It is essential, however, to consult with a physician or obstetrician before starting a exercising, as some health conditions can restrict the type of exercise programs to be chosen.