How does exercise benefit conception?
If you are among the ranks of those who have the ability to plan your pregnancy, the time before conception can be invaluable as you prepare to become pregnant. It can safely be said that nothing in your life will equal the joy, stress and sheer transformation that pregnancy and childbirth brings. An awareness of this will allow you to make the most of your preconception preparations and hopefully ease your transition into this exhilarating time of life. Long heart to heart talks with your partner, serious introspection and preparing financially are all ways to make sure you are ready for your new little one. Perhaps the most important thing you can do, however, is physical preparation. Beginning a healthy exercise program during the preconception period will benefit you greatly both during and after your pregnancy.
The changes your body will undergo during pregnancy and in childbirth are immense. It truly is a miracle to watch your body host a human being and there is nothing to equal the exhilaration that follows the pain of childbirth. Taking this into account, it seems only logical to spend the time and energy necessary to prepare your body in order for it to do its best. Consider it the most important boot camp you will ever attend.
Exercise before conceiving should consist of a good mix of cardiovascular exercise, weight lifting and stretching. Each of these is essential to prepare your self for the intensity of labor and the very physical job of being a mother. The cardiovascular exercise will help to give you the stamina you’ll need for an extended labor. Many women neglect this aspect and as a result, they become exhausted and the labor stops progressing. Developing your stamina through activities like running, aerobics, cycling or swimming may make a difference in whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section. Labor might be the most intense physical exertion you ever experience – prepare for it. As your baby gets bigger, so does his desire to be held and carried. You need to have the muscles necessary to hold your child for extended periods of time, to lift him up and down repeatedly, to carry him on one hip and a stroller on the other. You may be focused holding your tiny newborn in your hands now, but think ahead to when he is thirty pounds and crying to be carried. Taking the time to develop your upper body strength now will certainly pay off in the future. Finally, stretching is crucial to avoid injury. There is little point in building your muscles if you can’t move them and having full range of motion in all your limbs will be essential in your new life as a mommy and playmate.
Like all major milestones in life, the more you educate yourself about it the more confident you will be. Take these precious pre conception moments to hire a trainer, join a gym or attend a Pilates studio. Read about pregnancy and its effect on your body and create an exercise program that will fortify you for the times ahead. When you’re chasing your toddler across the park in a few years, you’ll be glad you did….