One of the most popular questions from mothers to be:

“Can I exercise while I’m pregnant?”

If you had a great routine in your local gym before pregnancy, naturally, you aren’t going to want to fall out of that workout program and lose your results. Exercise during pregnancy isn’t just allowed, it’s recommended by doctors.

Despite this recommendation, there are several key factors you’ll want to consider before jumping into a fitness program. Let’s take a look at the top 4 tips to follow while exercising during pregnancy.

4. Keep it Low Impact

While you may love doing CrossFit every week, that’s not the best option during your pregnancy. High impact exercises, while great for building strong bones and connective tissue, are not ideal when you’re carrying around a second person inside of you.

Stick to low impact exercises. The following are great examples:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Indoor cycling
• Basic weight training (standing only)

3. Eat for Two

If you were an avid fitness enthusiast before the pregnancy then you already know that exercise is going to burn a serious amount of calories. You may be accustomed to your pre-pregnancy caloric intake but when you are having a baby, a boost in calories is going to be needed.

Make sure that you are eating enough to both support your fitness goals AND support your growing baby. The best person to chat with about an ideal caloric intake is your doctor.

2. Avoid Tight Clothes

You may love wearing ultra-tight yoga pants and shirts when you go to the gym but being pregnant will put a stop to that.

Why?

Tight fitting clothes are constrictive. The last thing you want to do is put unneeded pressure on your stomach. Wear loose fitting and comfortable clothing. A maternity bra and a pair of sneakers that is a size larger than normal will go a long way during swelling.

1. Listen to Your Body

The most basic yet the most important thing to do: You must listen to your body when exercising during pregnancy.

When you’re not carrying a baby inside of you, then it is okay to push yourself past those thoughts of “I can’t do this.” However, if you’re getting signals from your body during pregnancy, listen up. Your body will tell you when something is amiss.

It’s important to remember that the things you were able to do BEFORE pregnancy are probably not the same things you can do DURING. You may see your endurance or strength dip but that’s normal. You’re not always going to feel your best or perform your best but what do you expect?

Don’t let pride take over during these moments. Do what you can, stay consistent, and stop exercising if you’re not feeling well.

Tell Us What You Think!

Did you maintain your exercise program during pregnancy?

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Tell us about them in the comments section below!