Develop and maintain physical fitness
- July 1, 2008
Conception
Moderate exercise is important for good health, whether you are trying to become pregnant or not. Your body will undergo a lot of physical changes during pregnancy and the fitter you are, the better you will cope.
To find out more about developing a suitable exercise plan for you, pick your category below and read on:
If you currently do no exercise
If you are currently not exercising at all, now is the time to start. The best way to build fitness is to begin with small, regular bouts of exercise. Whether it is walking, swimming, yoga or playing a sport you enjoy, the most important thing (and often the hardest) is to begin!
Listed below are some ideas to get you started on a mild exercise plan. In particular, focus on strengthening posture and developing your cardiovascular fitness. Stick with it for a couple of weeks and you'll be amazed at how much better you feel. Exercise is also helpful if you are trying to stop smoking and is extremely beneficial if you have a stressful position at work or have problems with insomnia!
Give the following things a go and see how you feel:
- Go for a brisk 20-30 minute walk at least three times a week.
- Join a yoga class. It's great for strengthening, posture and relaxation.
- Find a local pool and swim some laps
- Join a gym and have them design an exercise program for you. Let the instructor know that you are planning to become pregnant.
- Remember, if you are new to exercise, spend 5-10 mins stretching and warming up before you begin each session.
If you exercise regularly
If you exercise regularly and you are already fit - keep it up! However, if you are training very heavily, discuss your training program with your doctor.
Ensure that you include exercises to strengthen posture and your lower back - these will help during pregnancy. But remember once you fall pregnant, seek advice from your midwife or specialist about any exercise or sports that may be unsuitable during your pregnancy.
Discuss fitness with other EB members in our live forums.
Directory
Related Coverage
Your general practitioner (GP)
1 Jul | Make an appointment to visit your GP to discuss your ...
Food groups
1 Jul | To achieve a well-balanced diet you just need to follow ...
Healthy eating habits
1 Jul | Nutritional status of both parents prior to conception can ...
Limit caffeine intake
1 Jul | If you drink a lot of coffee it is better to reduce your ...
Limit alcohol intake
1 Jul | Alcohol can damage both the sperm and ovum prior to ...
Drugs and conception
1 Jul | Make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss whether ...
More Related Coverage
Your general practitioner (GP)
1 Jul | Make an appointment to visit your GP to discuss your pregnancy, particularly if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
Food groups
1 Jul | To achieve a well-balanced diet you just need to follow some basic guidelines.
Healthy eating habits
1 Jul | Nutritional status of both parents prior to conception can influence the health and well-being of your baby and its chances of optimum health throughout life.
Limit caffeine intake
1 Jul | If you drink a lot of coffee it is better to reduce your intake now than to try and stop suddenly once you're pregnant.
Limit alcohol intake
1 Jul | Alcohol can damage both the sperm and ovum prior to conception, so consideration should be given to both you and your partner's alcohol intake if you are trying to conceive.
Drugs and conception
1 Jul | Make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss whether any medications you are taking could cause problems with conception.
