Physical activity is believed to be one of the keys that unlocks the door to good health. Exercise and physical activity help you fit into a favorite pair of jeans, increase endurance and positively impact cardiovascular health. In addition to helping a woman maintain her health and appearance, exercise before, during and after pregnancy has long-lasting health effects for your entire family.

"With the current epidemic of obesity, there is an increasing need to stress a healthy lifestyle to children at an early age," says Dr. Brian Patrick Despinasse II, a pediatrician in Prairieville, La.

Knowing that exercise or activity is essential isn't always enough motivation for women to initiate increasing their level of activity or to maintain a level of activity before, during and after pregnancy. Including your spouse, friends and loved ones in your fitness plan can be a powerful motivator that provides vital physical, emotional and mental health for all of you.

Health and fitness experts offer optimistic encouragement to women questioning whether it is safe to exercise when attempting to conceive. "If a woman has a regular exercise routine before becoming pregnant, many believe that as long as physical activity is discussed with a doctor, there is no reason she can't continue to exercise throughout her pregnancy," says Dawn Braud, fitness services manager at the Woman's Center for Wellness in Baton Rogue, La.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.