I want to share a little about moving while pregnant. I feel like there is this weird notion that pregnant mamas should not exercise. I totally understand if you are on bed rest, that will limit the kind of movement you will be able to do, but if you are having a healthy pregnancy movement is so very important.
In my massage office I have a questions on my intake form about exercise. Over the years I have had some women respond with "Not since getting pregnant!" Hmmm. I wonder why that is?
Movement is important while you are pregnant.
You are growing a baby, which means there are new loads put on your growing body. Continuing to move and keep your muscle mass during pregnancy will help you to have a great birth, recover faster and be stronger postpartum. Why do you want to be strong postpartum?
Research shows that woman who exercise through out their entire pregnancy have less low back pain. I’m not saying your going to continue doing the same exercises you did before you became pregnant like if you are running long distances or training for a triathlon. But walking, swimming, stretching. lifting weights; these are things you can continue to do through your pregnancy and will benefit you and your baby.
A common postpartum pain complaint I hear is pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Why is that you ask?
Well we NEVER carry anything in our arms. Before you had a baby you never walked around with anything heavy in our arms. We out source. We put the heavy thing in the cart or the car or some other contraption to do the work for us. Even people who lift weights don’t carry that weight for an extended period of time.
During your pregnancy if you practiced carrying a small watermelon, cantaloupe or bag of rice in your arms daily for 30 min here and 30 min there you’d be preparing your body for your baby. Take your melon out for a walk. You will have to find creative ways to carry it, but you will get stronger arms. It may sounds strange, but you will be building arms that have stamina to hold the baby that is coming. And do you know what? Newborn babies love to be held and it is good for them. And that is a whole other post.
Thanks for reading!!