Staying Fit During Pregnancy: A Real Mom’s Perspective

By Elyse Jarard, owner of Venus–a Fitness Studio for Her, www.venus4her.com

The subject of exercise during pregnancy is a touchy one, to say the least. It used to be that doctors would advise patients to rest and take it easy for the duration of their pregnancy. Yes, we are carrying precious cargo; however, over the last ten years, attitudes from physicians and pregnant women have changed dramatically. Even though in the recent past we have been given arbitrary restrictions, like not letting your heart rate go above 140 beats per minute, it is now acceptable to engage in most exercise, including spinning, running, aerobics, strength training, and swimming. Yoga and pilates are okay too, as long as the class is specifically designed for pregnant women.

The key component to exercising while you are pregnant is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! It is true that this is not the time to start exercising, but if you are already active, you most likely can continue what you are doing. It is important to remember to stay hydrated, and just to be safe, ask your doctor if you have any restrictions due to your personal situation. If you have not exercised prior to your pregnancy and you want to get some activity, walking and swimming are great low-impact ways to stay healthy and elevate your heart rate.

Some may ask, WHY is it important to exercise during pregnancy? First of all, it’s not just for fanatics. Exercise helps you stay in shape, and it helps with the endurance and strength you will need during labor and taking care of a newborn. It’s also important after baby is born to get back your core strength, to lose the “baby weight,” and to balance your mood and hormones. Getting those extra pounds off is important for reasons other than vanity. Extra weight carried into your thirties and forties can increase your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and arthritis. If you don’t take care of yourself, who will take care of your family?

Before my first pregnancy (about 11 years ago) I exercised regularly. However, during my first trimester, I would get deathly ill with morning (noon, and night) sickness about two days after working out. It didn’t make any sense, but I stopped working out, and by my second trimester I felt much better. In my fifth month, my husband and I decided to climb Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. My doctor said it was perfectly fine, as long as there were no altitude issues, I listened to my body, and I paced myself. I didn’t make it to the top, but I got darn close! Four months later I had a healthy baby girl. During my second pregnancy (about 3 years later) I felt great. I participated in step aerobics classes three to four days a week. There were three of us in the class who were pregnant! At about 30 weeks, I was slowing down, so I stopped with the classes; running after a two-year-old had taken the rest of my energy. I delivered another healthy baby girl. 

It is important for women to learn the correlation between exercise and easier labor: reducing the need for medical intervention and cesarean sections. For years practitioners told women not to exert themselves, partly because they didn’t know any better, and partly to protect themselves from lawsuits. But we women know that exercise during pregnancy is as natural as pregnancy itself.