Pregnancy can pose a great strain and change to the physical body. Many changes revert once our babies are born, but even so, the growing, stretching and sometimes debilitating shifts can greatly reduce our ability to embrace and enjoy the phenomenal experience of pregnancy.
So what can help? It is understood exercise can help, but how? Exercise in pregnancy assists the endocrine system to work optimally. It’s the endocrine system that allows the symphony of hormones to interplay harmoniously, allowing and assisting further stretching, strengthening and growing of the body. Women can have a ‘feel good’ feeling after exercise, and again this is all thanks to the endocrine system releasing happy hormones.
So how do we get motivated when we feel so exhausted and physically awkward or in pain? Start small, a ten minute walk, a pregnancy yoga class but choose to go very gently, a pleasant swim, get a kick board or hold onto the side and enjoy the buoyancy.
Don’t worry about what you look like, or if some days you can do more than other days, whatever you can do is better than doing nothing at all. Most of all enjoy you and the choices you make.
It may be hard to exercise in pregnancy, but your body and baby will thank you as you allow and assist the body to stretch and grow with ease and love.
Beth Newman – Registered Midwife
Coast Life Midwifery operate from Fresh Holistic Health. For more information or to contact the Midwives, please contact Fresh Holistic Health
Photo credit – MIM Sportswear