Can pregnant women exercise?
The answer is yes! In most cases, it is recommended to exercise as often as possible. Of course, as pregnancy goes on, the amount of time exercising, and its intensity will gradually decrease. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that if you listen to your body and you stick to physical activities considered safe for pregnancy, you should be able to stay active throughout your entire pregnancy which is great for you and your new baby.
However, if you are pregnant, you should always check with a doctor before starting a pregnancy exercise program. In many situations, exercising might not be recommended for a couple of reasons and your doctor will advise you if exercise is not suitable during your pregnancy.
What Exercises are Pregnancy Safe?
The most recommended types of exercises while pregnant are walking, pregnancy Yoga and Pilates as well as Resistance Bands.
Resistance Bands are a great way to stay fit and strengthen your lower back, abdominals, glutes, legs as most importantly your pelvic floor while pregnant.
Anita Guerra, founder of Fit For 2, Midwife, Nurse and fitness instructor with a deep interest in pregnancy and postnatal exercise mentions: “my pregnant girls wear Armor Fit resistance bands to help build glute strength to minimise complications in their pregnancy. And so, they have strong legs and glutes ready for labour and birth, easing the recovery period.”
Best Resistance Band Exercises for Pregnancy:
Once you have been given the all-clear to exercise from your doctor, we’d love you to take a look at some of the exercises below:
1.Squats (only go as far down as feels comfortable)
2.Side Steps (focus on your core and back)
3.Hip Thrusts (squeezing your glutes on the way up)
4.Clams (keep your back straight)
5.Donkey Kicks (don’t allow your hips lifts or your back arches)
