Here’s just some of what you’ll be doing if you stay fit during your pregnancy:Reducing back pain and soreness:As you likely already know, your
baby’s growing size puts pressure on your hips, butt, and back, which
can lead to stiffness and soreness. When you exercise during pregnancy,
you improve your posture and get your back, hip, and butt muscles in
shape, thus reducing back pain and soreness.
Gaining enough but not too much weight: We can’t stress enough that
you absolutely need to gain weight during your pregnancy, because of
the extra fat stores, body fluids, and blood your baby needs to grow
properly — not to mention the weight of the child! But many women
gain too much, and take years to lose that weight (or never do). Recent
studies show that women who regularly exercise right up to the end of
their pregnancies gain nearly 8 pounds less than non-exercising pregnant
women, but were still well within the normal weight-gain limits for a
healthy pregnancy.Getting good sleep:If you’re having trouble sleeping during your preg-
nancy — as many women do — exercise can help you sleep more soundly
at night and feel more awake during the day.
Reducing delivery complications: Several studies show that women
who exercise have fewer complications during delivery and generally
need fewer drugs for pain relief.Reducing time spent in labor:One of the most stunning benefits of get-
ting and staying fit during pregnancy is that labor is significantly shorter
(by about one-third). Also, women who exercise tend to go into labor
about five days earlier than women who don’t exercise, making pregnancy
that much shorter.
Having a leaner child: Studies show that women who exercise regularly
during pregnancy have leaner (not low-birth-weight) babies, and this
leanness continues by age 5. This starts your baby off on the right fit-
ness foot from Day 1. See Chapter 22 for additional tips on helping kids
get and stay fit.Quickly returning to your normal weight: Women who exercise during
pregnancy have less weight to lose after they deliver and find that the
weight comes off more easily than for women who don’t exercise.Working with Your Healthcare Provider
If you’re pregnant, consult with your healthcare provider before starting an
exercise program. Discuss your goals and the type of activity you plan to do,
and get an okay from your physician or certified nurse-midwife before you to
get started. The health of your child is more important right now than your
fitness goals, so if your healthcare provider tells you not to work out, heed
his warnings.Chapter 21: Fit Pregnancy: Exercising for Two 331