Staying Fit and healthy During Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy health and fitness begins with receiving proper prenatal care right from the beginning. In fact, more women today are choosing to have a pre-conception appointment to assure her that they are in optimum health for conception. They know that having a physical examination before they conceive is the best way to know that the baby they carry will have all the required nutritional support and physical support that is possible. A pre-conception appointment assesses the health of the woman, her weight, and her reproductive health for conception and to carry the baby to full term. Any health issues or concerns that she has can be addressed at the visit. Any disease that she currently has can be monitored to be sure that any medication she is taking is safe for pregnancy.

During the course of her pregnancy she may be given choices for alternative care such as chiropractic treatment for the discomforts of pregnancy, massages also are beneficial. Her lifestyle will also bring about many choices for staying well and making improvements that will benefit the health of her baby as well as herself such as avoiding alcohol, smoking tobacco products, abusing street drugs, or practicing unsafe eating habits or getting treatments for anorexia or bulimia. These disorders can lead to premature labor, low birth weight baby, delayed fetal growth, gestational diabetes, complications during her labor and possible miscarriage, preeclampsia which is dangerous for her and her baby and also can lead to depression in pregnancy.

If she is in an abusive relationship (physical, mental or emotional) it is wise for her to consider the health of her baby and her because abuse can lead to premature birth, is a health risk for her and her baby if physical abuse is present and can cause premature birth.

Nutrition and exercise is key to a healthy pregnancy. A woman's healthcare provider or a nutritionist or registered dietician can go over the proper pregnancy diet for her specific health and pregnancy situation. Prenatal vitamins are commonly prescribed to assure that the baby is receiving all the vital nutrients necessary for building a body and the mom-to-be also requires proper nutrition because her body is working hard to support the new life and to grow a healthy baby plus meet all of her own nutritional needs.

Typically exercise if already a part of your daily routine before you become pregnant can be continued with perhaps some modification for your pregnancy throughout most of your pregnancy. If you were not exercising on a regular basis prior to becoming pregnant you can still follow the guidelines your healthcare provider gives you and start a healthy exercise regimen for a healthier pregnancy.

Exercise helps to relieve some of the discomforts of pregnancy, increases your energy level and tones your muscles that will carry your pregnancy and help in delivery to push the baby out. There are some guidelines every pregnant woman should follow while exercising.

Pregnancy guidelines for exercising in a healthy manner:

·Ask your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program during pregnancy

·Stay away from contact sports during pregnancy or exercise programs or sports that involve sudden stops, jarring or the risk of falls unless you have discussed your exercise activities with your healthcare provider

·Listen carefully to the signs your body gives you during exercise and reduce the level of the workout or stop depending on the signals. You should always stop if you experience pain or feel any fluid leakage from your vagina

·Never push yourself to exercise to the point of exhaustion or to the point where you become breathless

·Always wear sensible and comfortable exercise shoes that are designed for the exercise you are doing

·Drink water before, during and after exercising

·Take frequent breaks

·Do not exercise outdoors during hot weather

·Avoid running or cycling on rocky or unstable terrain

·Avoid lifting weights above your head or using weights that can cause a strain to the lower back muscles. You can use weight training to improve your muscle tone, especially in your upper body or abdominal areas as this is beneficial to pregnancy and delivery