Exhaustion, sore boobs, nausea, food cravings (and aversions)… there’s a lot to deal with when pregnant, so we understand if you just want to relax. But there may be days when a little movement sounds appealing and, for active mamas-to-be, the notion of taking a nine-month hiatus from exercise can seem like a long slog. The good news is that a slew of research backs staying active as a great way to improve the health of both you and your baby.
‘Staying active while pregnant can help boost your mood and energy, reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, improve sleep and decrease postpartum recovery time,’ explains Lucy Young, a pre- and postnatal exercise specialist. ‘That’s quite the list of positives, so it’s no surprise many women now forgo outdated advice that advocates a more sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy.’
While there can be medical reasons to avoid exercise during pregnancy (check with your doctor or midwife to be sure), the key is to suss out what pre- and postnatal
