Running During Pregnancy - Increase Activity During Maternity

Running during pregnancy is no longer regarded as unsafe. We have reached a stage of development in society where everything is judged by practicality and not by sticking to something that was said a century ago. In the past when women became pregnant they were kept in isolation till they delivered. Even after pregnancy their movements were restricted for a certain period. But all that has changed now. Similarly, the attitude has also changed towards pregnancy exercises. People like athletes, who are in the habit of exercising do so regularly, with some limitations on vigorous movements, and deliver healthy babies. This gave courage to others who wanted to exercise but did not due to ill-advice. A bit of running and jogging in the early months, walking and indoor exercises in the later stages can really be a boon to the pregnant lady.

Understand Your Body

It is always beneficial to know the basics of your body and its working. When a woman becomes pregnant many hormones are released inside her body and her body temperature rises along with it. The blood pressure becomes high; the body maintains bone density and the ligaments try to relax. The period of morning sickness starts in the first trimester and you get the feeling of nausea, vomiting and generally feel very tired even after little exertion. A little bit of exercising, walking and running during pregnancy will do you a world of good.

Remember do not overstrain yourself. Mix a day of exercise with a day of rest. Moreover, give up your routine of exercise for the day when you feel the sweat running on your forehead or down your spine. This is for women who have never had any routine of exercise prior to pregnancy. You can increase exercise from 5 times to 10 times for each routine according to convenience till the end of your first trimester. If you are fond of swimming then this is the time to enjoy your favorite hobby as swimming will help in exercising all your body parts and keep them mobile.

As you enter your second trimester your body and mind start to adjust to the given situation. You can continue with running during pregnancy in this period as well. You can start swimming more vigorously now and you can add cycling and jogging to your routine of pregnancy exercises. Remember never overstrain yourself in excitement or fitness craze as it can give you pain in your lower back and damage internal tissues. During this period you should try some pelvic floor exercises and abdominal exercises as your body is now gaining weight faster and you have to adjust to everything including exercise according to the new body weight. You should always take the advice of your doctor before starting any routine of exercise as every body is made differently and can take strain differently.

In the third trimester you should avoid running during pregnancy. Your body becomes much heavier now and it is difficult to maintain body balance. You can continue with walking and light floor exercises. Never jump or leap in the air to avoid internal injury to the fetus.