Lara is carrying her second child and appears to be in good health as she goes into the hospital for her routine checkup.
Doctor: “How are you feeling ma’am?”
Lara: “I’m alright.”
After getting examined by the doctor, Lara steps out and spots her friend, Victoria, in the ward next to the doctor’s office.
After exchanging pleasantries, Victoria says: “You look all strong Lara, you don’t even look like you’re due. I’ve been here for 2 days, anxiously waiting for my labour to begin.”
Lara: “How often do you exercise?”
Victoria: “Never.”
Lara: “Being physically active has made me stronger and I have been consistent with my routine.”
A healthy habit that many pregnant women fail to develop is regular exercise. Pregnant women are often told to eat for two, but they are seldom advised to exercise for two.
Get to know what exercises your body needs and the benefits you stand to gain.
- Walking: A simple walk around your compound or neighborhood can help relieve joint aches and strengthen back muscles. In addition to improving physical health, walking boosts energy levels and mood.
- Running on the treadmill: This exercise helps you lose weight, reduce constipation, ease back pain, and maintain your mood during pregnancy. Remember to do it in moderation.
- Dancing: Pregnancy hormones can sometimes upset your emotions, but regular dance aerobics can improve your mood. If you don’t want to sign up for a dance class, you can schedule a dance timeout with a friend.
- Yoga: Yoga has a lot of benefits and it comes in handy in your day-to-day activities. It helps you relieve stress and gets you vibrant again. It is all about getting your instructor’s recommendation for the right poses.
- Swimming: Pregnancy comes with hot flushes, the heat is intolerable and you wish you could stay the whole day under a friendly temperature. Swimming is a healthy and fun way to let off some steam.
The benefits of these exercises are so enormous that you shouldn’t hesitate to start living an active life even with the pregnancy.
As much as you need to be cautious with everything you do, pregnancy should not be a license for a sedentary lifestyle. Keeping fit is always recommended at any stage of life and all expectant mothers should develop an exercise routine to boost their health and ease the delivery process.
