Being fit, whatever your shape and weight, can be beneficial at any time in your life. In pregnancy it's the same – it gives you a natural high, it's a time when you can concentrate on you and your body's well-being instead of work etc, and it helps build up stamina and body strength for the exhausting days ahead and the birth itself. As long as you make sure you are taking exercise that's safe in pregnancy then you will feel the benefits without having to diet or overdo running around.
How exercise can benefit your unborn baby, too
Just as diet and nutrition directly affect your baby, exercise is another influence on your body which links straight to the growing fetus.
A natural high Exercising produces a biochemical compound in our bodies called endorphins. They help to drive us in times of exercise, shock or other extreme emotions. Some people call them our 'natural pain killers', but the rush they produce when we have pushed ourselves even a little, during exercise, can be passed on to a baby in a perfectly safe and positive way.
Oxygen feed Because exercising improves our blood flow – and blood is the route by which we feed our growing babies everything they need in the womb - we up the levels of oxygen in the blood which helps fetal development.
Adrenalin injection
The hormonal change that comes with exercising, can cross the placenta which means your baby can enjoy the adrenalin feed too.
Make sure you know what's safe to do in pregnancy, trimester by trimester, and that you drink the right about of water.
