Labour is often compared to running a marathon, and if you look at your pregnancy as like preparing for a marathon, fitness and strength (including mental strength) are key. Of course it’s not only labour you need to be strong for, same goes for after your baby is born when you are constantly pulling and dragging all the gear that goes with a little person. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your level of exercise during pregnancy depends on your fitness before you got pregnant. As a rule, aim to do 80% of what you were doing before you were pregnant at the beginning of pregnancy and adjust this as your pregnancy progresses. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Always trust your instinct and do what feels right for you. If something becomes painful then stop and try something different. Generally, your heart rate should not go above 140 beats per minute and since most people have fit bits on their wrist this is increasingly easier to monitor. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ From about 8 weeks your body starts to release the hormone relaxin which make your muscles, ligaments and joints more supple allowing your body to accommodate your growing baby. As a result this can make you more prone to injury so don’t push it and if you start to feel unusual while exercising don’t stop immediately as you can suddenly feel faint, slow down gradually with a gentle walk. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are like me and never go to the gym, there are other ways to keep active during pregnancy. Pregnancy yoga and Pilates are great at building strength and a good way for you to practice your breathing techniques that will be so vital in labour. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Walking is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. Also swimming is a great one, as it’s a great way to get some cardiovascular exercise without straining your joints. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What exercise did you enjoy during pregnancy? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love this photo from @realdeniselewis, Olympic gold medallist and mum. ⠀⠀⠀
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