quick clicks

iparenting fitness articles

iparenting fitness q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Good Pregnancy Health from Day One

Keeping Active Before, During and After Pregnancy

By Gina Roberts-Grey

Physical activity is believed to be one of the keys that unlocks the door to good health. Exercise and physical activity help you fit into a favorite pair of jeans, increase endurance and positively impact cardiovascular health. In addition to helping a woman maintain her health and appearance, exercise before, during and after pregnancy has long-lasting health effects for your entire family.

"With the current epidemic of obesity, there is an increasing need to stress a healthy lifestyle to children at an early age," says Dr. Brian Patrick Despinasse II, a pediatrician in Prairieville, La.

Knowing that exercise or activity is essential isn't always enough motivation for women to initiate increasing their level of activity or to maintain a level of activity before, during and after pregnancy. Including your spouse, friends and loved ones in your fitness plan can be a powerful motivator that provides vital physical, emotional and mental health for all of you.

Health and fitness experts offer optimistic encouragement to women questioning whether it is safe to exercise when attempting to conceive. "If a woman has a regular exercise routine before becoming pregnant, many believe that as long as physical activity is discussed with a doctor, there is no reason she can't continue to exercise throughout her pregnancy," says Dawn Braud, fitness services manager at the Woman's Center for Wellness in Baton Rogue, La.

Before beginning or altering your activity, it is important to understand how exercise affects a woman trying to conceive or who is expecting a baby. "Moderate exercise can help a women reduce her stress over conceiving," says Braud. "Yoga, Pilates and meditation are terrific stress reducers for some, while running or walking clears the mind and stress for others." Routine activity is also credited with increasing agility, flexibility and strengthening muscles needed to carry a child throughout pregnancy.

Want to see more?

• Child's Play: Combining Fitness and Fun
• Mama's Got Biceps: Building Muscle With Strength Training
• Room to Room Fitness: Exercise Your Way
  Around the House
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!