Staying Fit and Comfortable During Pregnancy

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Staying fit and comfortable during pregnancy can be quite a challenge. During the first trimester, you may be plagued with morning sickness. By your third trimester, your larger size can make it difficult to get around or relax.

Still, there are things you can do to make your pregnancy more healthy and enjoyable.

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Stay fit during pregnancy by exercising moderately.

I know this sounds like one of those “easier said than done” kinds of things. But it doesn’t have to be hard. Staying fit during pregnancy can be as simple as taking regular walks around the neighborhood.

Walking is a low-stress activity that can help maintain (or improve) cardiovascular fitness. It doesn’t stress your joints, there’s no risk of falling (well, no more than walking around in your everyday life). It’s an all-around great fitness activity.

Walking in the fresh air can also be beneficial if you’re suffering from morning sickness. Smells can often be a nausea trigger for pregnant women, so the fresh air can be helpful as well as the light exercise.

According to Dr. Michele Hakakha, Ob/Gyn and author,

“Even walking [just] 20 minutes a day can help release endorphins [that] counteract fatigue and nausea.”

staying fit during pregnancy

Step up a notch and stay fit with prenatal yoga.

While walking is great, some pregnant women want to kick their fitness up a notch. Another great way to stay fit during pregnancy is trying prenatal yoga.

Like “regular” yoga, prenatal yoga offers a variety of health benefits, from increased strength and stamina to improved coordination and mood. The prenatal yoga instructors create specialized routines that are safe for expecting mamas.

Staying fit and healthy during pregnancy is great, but what about staying comfortable?

It’s true that healthy fitness habits and maintaining an appropriate weight can help keep you comfortable during pregnancy. But sometimes, that’s just not enough.

That’s where prenatal massage can be a lifesaver!

Pregnancy can exacerbate any aches and pains you already experienced in your pre-pregnant life. Plus, pregnancy can bring on a whole host of new discomforts, from round ligament pain to backaches to shoulder tension. And that’s just a few!

Prenatal massage can help alleviate some of these pregnancy problems and help you stay comfortable throughout your pregnancy. Even better, some research suggests prenatal massage may also offer additional health benefits, like lessening anxiety and depression and improving immune function.

Another key to staying comfortable is wearing the right clothes.

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Some women are resistant to making the switch to maternity clothes. The clothes can be expensive and sometimes the styles can be limiting.

Still, forcing yourself into your pre-pregnancy clothes can really exacerbate some of your pregnancy discomforts. Even if you haven’t started showing yet, that doesn’t mean your regular clothes still fit easily.

Think about it: You know what’s worse than round ligament pain? Experiencing round ligament pain with a waistband and button that’s digging into your abdomen.

Rather than delaying the inevitable, make the switch to maternity clothes as soon as your regular wardrobe stops fitting comfortably. You don’t have to buy everything all at once, but buying a few pieces early can make a huge difference.

(If you really don’t feel like making the switch yet, or you can’t afford to, these belly bands can be a great stop-gap to hold you over a little longer.)

In the end, staying fit and comfortable during pregnancy is going to look different for every woman. Hopefully, an article like this, combined with a little bit of trial and error on your part, will help you find what’s best for you to have a healthy and happy pregnancy!

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