The best exercises in pregnancy

"Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve health, reduce the risk of excess weight gain and back pain, and it may make delivery easier.

Moderate exercise during pregnancy may give a newborn a healthier start.

Exercise at any time can improve heart health and stamina, decrease fatigue and constipation, boost mood and energy levels, enhance sleep, and improve muscle strength.

A well-chosen exercise program can have the same benefits during pregnancy.

It is important to discuss any changes in exercise habits with a health care provider, to make sure you do the right kind of exercise at the right stage of pregnancy.

Fast facts about exercise during pregnancy

Here are some facts about exercising during pregnancy. More detail is in this app.

- Exercising during pregnancy can reduce the risk of excess weight gain, back issues, prepare muscles for - childbirth, and can give the baby a healthier start in life.

- Those who do not already follow an exercise regimen already should ease into exercise.

- Exercise is important, but it should be low-impact, and it is important to know when to stop.

- Swimming, brisk walking, yoga, and stationary cycling are good ways to get fit during pregnancy.

Suitable activities during pregnancy are brisk walking, swimming, indoor stationary cycling, prenatal yoga, and low-impact aerobics, guided by a certified aerobics instructor.

Some special exercises can help prepare for labor.

These carry little risk of injury, they benefit the entire body, and they can continue until delivery.

Now that youre eating, sleeping and even breathing for two, donning the spandex and getting sweaty might be the last thing on your mind. But during pregnancy more than ever, exercise is important. After all, you're working out for two too! While exercise may have once been used to shed pounds pre-pregnancy, now that baby is on the way, you'll be watching the scale move in the opposite direction. So maintaining a healthy routine of pregnancy workouts will help you bounce back after babyand get you both in fighting shape for the big birth day!

Baby on board or not, your body benefits from exercise in a variety of ways beyond weight control: improved heart health, a mental boost, increased energy, killer confidence, better sleep and the list goes on and on. All of these fitness perks are going to be much needed as you countdown to baby's birth day, but if they're still not enough to motivate routine sweat sessions, consider the many ways pregnancy exercises may specifically be able to benefit you and your baby."