A new year calls for a new year’s resolution, and it’s safe to say that most women make the same one year after year: to exercise. While many of us tend to break this self-promise after a week or two of hard work at the gym, this year is different than all of the previous years. This year you’re not only resolving to exercise for yourself, you’re also making a commitment to the health of your baby. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: exercise positively benefits you inside and out. When an expectant mother exercises, her baby receives cardiac benefits in the form of a lower fetal heart rate.  In addition, fetal breathing and the nervous system are much more mature in babies that are exposed to exercise than those that are not.

As a pregnant mom, exercise ensures that you have less of a chance of developing complications or certain conditions  like gestational diabetes, and it reduces the risk of having an oversized baby (don’t worry – the baby’s organs will still develop normally!). Exercise also prepares you for labor, enabling you to better cope with the stress of delivery and in turn, recover more quickly afterward. Plus, working out helps to combat fatigue during the day and gives you a more peaceful sleep at night. The external benefits of exercise are a bit more obvious: muscle tone, a slimmer figure, and glowing skin!

If you’ve made a new year’s resolution to get in shape and you are currently pregnant, there’s no need to become work out-obsessed. In fact, excessive exercise during pregnancy is considered unhealthy. A regular swim in the pool or a brisk walk  around your neighborhood every evening can do wonders for you and your baby.

We won’t sugarcoat it: getting into the habit of a regular work out when you’re pregnant (especially if you’re not used to exercising) can be a challenge. However, the best rewards come from life’s challenges and keeping your resolution to get active during your pregnancy gives you triple the reward– a healthy lifestyle, a healthy baby, and a healthy you!

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