Why prenatal exercise and normal deliveries are peas in a pod

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Advice you can take all the way to the delivery room

We adore all the ways exercise can instantly change your day for the better. 

With just a ten-minute walk or a few squats, you get some time much-needed me time, a fantastic boost for your mood, and the promise of a better night’s sleep. 

With exercise, you can make your day a little less Monday-ish *right now*. 

But there are also some serious long-term benefits of exercise, especially for pregnant women. 

Like, really long term. 

Turns out, when you get your fabulous preggo body moving today, it can pay off all the way to the delivery room. 

But first, we’ve got some more good news. 

Calling ALL women

Let’s get something straight right off the bat: Exercise is for every mama. 

Your previous level of fitness–whether you were more likely to win a longest-time-spent-in-your-jammies contest or a CrossFit championship–does not matter. 

Studies have shown that even if you were doing your best impression of a banana slug six months before you got pregnant, increasing to moderate activity levels during pregnancy is completely safe. 

And active women can increase to vigorous activity–as long as the pregnancy is uncomplicated–without having any effect on their babies’ APGAR scores. 

So we want you to know that you should never let anyone–especially that nasty voice in your head (shut UP Carl!)–tell you that you can’t exercise today just because you didn’t yesterday. 

If you’ve tied your pony high and tight and laced up some sassy sneaks, you’re set to jet. 

First trimester boosts

Remember what we said about long-term thinking?

Turns out, exercise during the first trimester of pregnancy can decrease the risk of preterm labour. 

How’s that for a literal long-term benefit? 

Every walk, workout, and tricep dip on the kitchen counter while you wait for the microwave is money in the bank when it comes to trying to avoid an early delivery. And that’s true whether you’re a fitness guru or you’ve never held a dumbbell in your life. 

And there’s more.

If you’re in your first trimester and feeling fatigued and nauseated (we know, we can hear you laughing at that “if”), some light exercise can actually help boost your energy and reduce your nausea, too. 

You’re welcome!

Increase your chances for a normal delivery

What if you’re further along and feeling less than stellar?  More, *ahem*, planetary, perhaps?

We’ve got you. 

Even moderate exercise, like a short walk or the workouts you’ll find in our pregnancy fitness program, in your second and third trimester can increase the likelihood of a normal vaginal delivery. 

Caesarean sections can occur for a number of reasons. But studies have shown that if you’re moving consistently through the second half of your pregnancy, your risk of needing one goes down significantly. 

You heard us. When you pull on your stretchy pants and get moving, you’re not just making today easier. 

You’re working to help delivery day go smoothly, too. 

And that’s an investment worth making. 

Ready to get started? We’ve done the long-term planning for you. Check out our pregnancy program and get moving today!