Did you know that your resting heartbeat is increased by 8 beats per minute during the first few weeks of your pregnancy?According to Natural Pregnancy: A Much Better Way, pregnancy also shifts your center of gravity forward, and softens the ligaments around joints. Carrying around the extra weight puts strain on your back, legs, and internal organs, and makes certain movements more difficult. Because of all these changes, and more, you will need to adjust your exercise regiment.
Some tips suggested by Kenneth Elliot are:
Eliminate crunches or any other form of exercise that stresses the abdominals or back.
Go with lighter weights.
Avoid jerky movements and forgo squats which can separate the placenta from the uterus.
Breathing properly during exercises performed while pregnant is essential.
Hydrate at an appropriate amount throughout the day. That means you should take small sips over a longer time frame, rather than large intake at a given time. Eating should follow the same pattern – four to five small meals per day is preferable to three larger ones.
Warm up gently. Perform easy stretches and rest often for a few minutes at a time.
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercises. It gives very low stress on the body, but is an active cardio workout.
Prenatal yoga
If you feel any dizziness, swelling or experience any kind of vaginal bleeding or discharge discontinue at once and consult a medical professional. Before beginning any exercise regimen it’s vital that you talk with your physician.