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Exercise During Pregnancy: Benefits & Safety - A Comprehensive Guide

Many myths run amok regarding exercise during pregnancy. Some people believe that starting an exercise regime after conception of a child will lead to a miscarriage. Until recently, even some doctors continued to believe old wive's tales about the harmful effects on the fetus when the mother exercises. However, we now know that the reality is that exercising during pregnancy is not only beneficial to the mother, but also to the baby.

Now most people are aware that exercising is beneficial to both mother and child during pregnancy. Not only do core exercises help women regain their original shape quicker, they also have statistically shorter labors with greater outcomes. So, the idea that working your core during pregnancy is harmful to the fetus has turned out to be a myth.

That being said, there are some guidelines that women should follow. While there is no specific target heart rate, you want to be careful not to overexert yourself to the point of exhaustion. Staying fit during a pregnancy is one thing, trying to lose weight during that pregnancy is another.

If you have been on a particular exercise regimen prior to your pregnancy, you can generally stay on that same regimen. Just be sure to tell your doctor, so they can let you know when you want to back off on the intensity as you near the birth date.

Another factor to keep in mind is body temperature. Remember that your baby is unable to regulate its own body temperature. Therefore, you want to be sure that you have proper warm up and cool down time to help regulate your baby's temperature, as well as your own.

When it comes to flexibility exercises, while you do not want to completely rid yourself of stretching activities, you do want to keep them to a minimum. The reason for this is a little hormone your body produces in excess during pregnancy called relaxin. This hormone lubricates your joints, so it may seem like you have a greater range of motion, you have to be careful as this increased range also increases your risk of injury.

In addition to limiting deep muscle movements and other flexibility exercises, try to avoid exercises involving your ability to balance. This would include such activities as biking and using roller blades. While fun, your balance will naturally be off during your pregnancy, and while the exercise itself will not harm you, one fall can really hurt your unborn child.

So, while you are pregnant, keep exercising. Your baby will be born with healthier, and you will come out of the labor quicker and in better condition. Use your best judgment, common sense, keep your doctor informed, and remember to listen to your body. Find out even more about this topic plus all about baby heart rate monitor! Visit http://www.babyheartbeatmonitors.net for full details.