Working Out & Pregnancy

Even before the discovery of Otter girl, working out was a priority in my life. Now, I value it even more & believe it is a necessary component of a healthy & enjoyable pregnancy. I've been thinking a lot recently about the variety of benefits that working out has & try to encourage other mommy's-to-be to get moving [because it feels so good!].

I should also be more specific on what I would consider a workout. A workout doesn't have to end with you soaked in sweat and short of breath. I would actually discourage that during pregnancy as it isn't wise to push yourself to exhaustion. Any activity that gets the heart rate up a little bit for an extended period of time is an appropriate workout for the pregnant gal. A 20 minute quick walk, a [stationary] bike ride, the elliptical machine, doing some light weight lifting, yoga, or body weight workouts can all help prepare the growing body to carry & support increased weight throughout daily activities & for post-partum activities as well.

Benefits to working out while pregnant:
 1. Prevents lower back pain - As baby grows & weight increases around the abdomen, posture can be affected & the strain of carrying that weight can cause back pain. Also, having tight muscles & ligaments from a lack of movement also causes lower back pain. Even a simple 20 minute walk, 5 days a week, can help the body build muscle to support the baby & prevent the back from over-arching, which causes pain. Stronger muscles help maintain better posture; something I've seen that can go out the window during the last couple months of pregnancy [shoulders hunched forward & too much lower spine curve].

2. Controls weight gain - It is suggested that women gain 25-35 pounds during the 9 months of pregnancy. Gaining too much weight increases the chance of developing high blood pressure or gestational diabetes [which puts the baby at a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life]. Other problems can include a large baby, which complicates labor, & premature labor. It also helps post-partum to lose the weight quicker because there is less weight to lose [mostly the weight of the baby, placenta, & water retained which is gone just after birth].

3. Relaxation - There are many things to be stressed about during pregnancy, & wacky hormones don't help either! I find that after I take the time to workout, I feel better emotionally. Even when I'm tired, but choose to workout, I feel much more energized & refreshed than before. There is scientific proof that working out boosts emotional well-being...  endorphins are released during a workout, which are "feel-good" hormones & provide a natural "high".

4. Prevents late night leg cramps - I've been warned that now is the time [starting the third trimester] that leg cramps can start haunting me in the middle of the night. I haven't had one. Cramps are caused by fatigued muscles [& other factors, like dehydration]. Spending a day on your feet with extra baby weight can be exhausting for muscles that aren't used to doing that kind of work. By working out, legs will become stronger & daily activities won't be as exhausting for the muscles. End result = less likely to be woken up with agonizing leg cramps.

5. Self-confidence boost - I want to feel good about myself & how I look while my belly continues to balloon.  Becoming a mother isn't an excuse to "let yourself go" but an even better time to really take care of your body [for yourself & your baby!]. I'm not scared of getting a puffy face or ankles during the last couple weeks of carrying around Jori girl because water retention is just part of the last phase of pregancy. But I do care that I don't put on excess pounds & fat that will affect how I feel about myself.

I could list even more benefits, but will save that for another day.

[disclaimer: it is never my intention to offend or seem as if I'm passing judgement on someone who isn't "doing pregnancy" the same way I am... My goal is to just give out ideas to consider for a healthier life & easier pregnancy]