Exercise During Pregnancy Does More Than Keep You In Shape

During one of my prenatal visits at nine months, I hopped up on the table and assumed the position.

The midwife looked me up and down with surprise: “Are you doing yoga?”

When I told her I was, she said, “I thought so. Women who are nine months pregnant aren’t that flexible.”

It feels good when others recognize your hard work. And although prenatal yoga is relaxing, pretty much everything you do in your third trimester is hard work.

Exercise is Good Your Baby

A study that was released a while back showed that pregnant women who exercised for 30 minutes three times per week contributed to their babies’ strong hearts.

Their exercise wasn’t necessarily strenuous. Some chose power walking or yoga, others ran or lifted weights.

Water aerobics makes for great pregnancy exercise, especially during the summer. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and it takes pressure off of your joints and belly.

Exercise is Good for You

I know: Duh.

What’s interesting, though, is that exercise before conception and during early pregnancy stimulates the expression of beneficial proteins that support healthy blood vessels.

Animal studies show that exercise boosts levels of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Another version of this protein that is specific to pregnancy is called placental growth factor (PIGF). PIGF and VEGF stimulate the development of new vessels and keep them functioning properly.

Increased levels of VEGF promote a healthy endothelium, which is the tissue that forms a lining of cells inside of the vessel. This allows blood to pump more efficiently, reducing stress on the heart.

Keeping your cardiovascular system in great shape will help you avoid preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious condition of super-high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Listening to Your Body is Most Important

Physical activity is important, but paying attention to your body’s signals is even more important.

During my pregnancy, I took my dog for a walk every day. Sometimes I would get a little light-headed. I would squat down and relax for a minute or so to find relief. It would only happen once or twice.

In my seventh month, I went for our daily walk and got one of my dizzy spells. I found no relief in my squatting rest break. Every time I stood up, I started to see black and thought I was going to pass out. Scary!

I walked a step or two, stopped to rest, and tried again. I finally made it home, and that was it–I didn’t do that again.

Don’t push yourself. Relax when you need to, and don’t ignore signs of fatigue.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports exercise during pregnancy. If you ask your doctor and she says that exercise isn’t a good idea in your situation, it’s best to follow that advice.

Otherwise, find an activity that you enjoy, and feel good knowing that you’re investing in your health and your baby’s development!