Benefits Of Walking While Pregnant
Though traditionally, exercising during pregnancy was a controversial issue, now thanks to the awareness of the benefits of following an exercise routine during pregnancy, more and more women are opening up to the idea. The good news is that – the simplest things in life are usually the most effective too – and hence walking may be your best bet to help you have a good pregnancy and a quicker postpartum recovery as well. However, if you are pregnant, you probably must have experienced the temptation to sit back at home and rest, especially when morning sickness, nausea or just general fatigue, appear to be loyal and consistent friends!
Here are some reasons, why it would be a good choice to say “no, thanks” to the temptation to rest at home and to include walking in your daily routine –
Walking is one of the best cardio activities. Cardio activities are those which involve and engage the complete body, and especially exercise the heart.
Cardio activities target the Cardiovascular system- consisting of the heart and the blood circulation system – and thus improve their efficiency. An improved blood circulation to all parts of the body helps wash away accumulated toxins – internal or due to medications used.
Improved blood circulation also improves the reach of nutrients to all parts of the body, especially the placenta and the developing fetus.
This also helps tackle issues like bloating or indigestion, which are pretty common during pregnancy.
Walking also helps regulate glucose-intake in the body thereby reducing the chances of gestational diabetes which are quite common occurrences and complicate the pregnancy.
It helps reduce the chances of pre-eclampsia (sudden onset of hypertension or blood pressure) during pregnancy which might otherwise lead to complications or even a cesarean.
As with any cardio activity, happy hormones like endorphins and others like dopamine are secreted which positively affect the mood and over all well being of the mother.
It has been proved to help in post-partum recovery, especially with respect to the body weight of the baby and the mother
There is existing evidence that, exercising during pregnancy affects the birth-weight of the new born positively, and thereby reduces chances of obesity in future life.
Before beginning the routine, it is advisable to consult your doctor for clearance and any important points to be considered. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends about 30 minutes of moderate exercise like walking most days of the week. Needless to say, it is important to listen to the body and its signals of discomfort or need for rest at all times. Make sure to invest in a good pair of shoes, and comfortable clothing which absorbs sweat efficiently and of course, remember to keep sipping water in between the activity!
