A Guide To Exercise During Pregnancy
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A Guide To Exercise During Pregnancy
Some exercise is important during pregnancy. Here is a video describing what forms of exercise are good for your body during and after pregnancy, and why. Also, a guide on how to dress during pregnancy exercise.
Hi, my name is Cameron from Pretty Pregnant. We are maternity and nursing wear specialists. Today, we are going to be talking about all your pregnancy wardrobe needs.
A guide to exercising while pregnant, and helping us today is Sarah. Hi, I'm Sarah Tall from the Pilates Studio in Great Portland Street W1. During pregnancy, only a gentle form of exercise is recommended such as Pilates, swimming, or yoga pregnancy classes.
In the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, do not exert yourself. In fact, just rest. However, if you are used to doing regular exercise, check with your doctor first to see if it's appropriate for you to continue on.
To allow the abdominal muscles to separate, you really should not work your stomach muscles. At certain stages during the pregnancy, you really must work the pelvic floor muscles especially after birth. During pregnancy and in nursing, you want to really work your upper body.
The Pilates technique is ideal for this. However, you will need to find a teacher who is a member of a professional body and who is qualified in pre- and post-natal classes. After birth, once the health practitioner has checked that the linea alba muscles have knitted back together - that's the stomach muscles have knitted back together - it is time to start a gentle form of rehabilitation exercise such as Pilates.
At this stage, be careful not to overstretch as the pelvis and possibly the other joints too are still very unstable as the hormone relaxin is still present in the body for up to six months after the birth. Whatever form of exercise you choose to do, you must check first with your health professional to make sure it's appropriate for you to do. I'll hand you over to Caroline now, who will tell us what to wear when exercising when pregnant.
So, when you are choosing your maternity wear, look for breathable, comfortable fabrics that won't overstretch with you and won't gape when you're moving around. Make sure you try everything in stores, making sure it stretches and moves with you. If you're looking for maternity wear, choose a soft supporting one that'll be comfortable while exercising.
So, that's what to look for in your exercise wear. .