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Participate in the Pregnancy Revolution

Stay Fit While You're Expecting

By Dr. Aneema Van Groenou

You are making history. Simply by running, kayaking, spinning or hiking, you are participating in a pregnant revolution. One of the startling revelations of the late 20th century was that being active during pregnancy is actually good for you. Centuries of a profound weariness of pregnancy led to one thing: confinement. But that's all ending – and you're making it happen.

Athletic, fit and enthusiastic women who are in touch with their bodies have continued to exercise during pregnancy and they feel great. The good news is that hundreds of recent studies on the effects of exercise on pregnancy have proven these active women right: Exercise during pregnancy is good for you. And it's good for your fetus, too.

In fact, the overwhelming medical evidence pointing to the benefits of staying active during pregnancy – and not confining yourself to the couch – forced the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to significantly revise their recommendations for exercise during pregnancy. In January of 2002, ACOG released new guidelines encouraging pregnant women to exercise regularly. Goodbye, confinement!

Cardiovascular exercise has become a fundamental part of our lives. Whether you visit the gym, the local track, the nearby park or the wilderness for your exercise, it's not just for the workout. Sure, you're thinking of increasing your lung capacity, improving blood flow to your heart, building muscle fibers and burning calories. The truth is, you're also there to blow off steam, get out of the house, walk the dog, meet friends and refresh your perspective.

During pregnancy, you may crave exercise for the same reasons. But the symptoms of pregnancy (the nausea, fatigue and aches, for example) may keep you from making a move. That's OK. You should know, however, that the benefits of regular exercise for you, your pregnancy and your fetus are significant. In fact, exercise may help control those annoying symptoms. Women who exercise regularly report greater overall happiness with their pregnancies.

During pregnancy, women find that exercise helps them establish a special relationship with their fetus. Many women notice that their baby moves differently during cardiovascular exercise. Research has shown that your fetus can actually feel the rhythmic movement of your exercise in the womb.

Want to see more?

• Stretching Your Limits: Flexibility Helps During Pregnancy
• In the Swim of Things: Aqua Aerobics and Water Therapy During Pregnancy
• Get Into the Swing of Things: Golfing During Pregnancy
• Talk about it!

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