Regular physical activity is very important for your health. And this also applies to pregnancy. Regular physical activity helps you stay in shape, experience childbirth better and manage your weight during the 9 months of pregnancy. But be careful, you can't do all sports during pregnancy.
What sports should you practice when you are pregnant? What sports are contraindicated? What precautions should you take?
From a general point of view, sport is beneficial during pregnancy. Indeed, it improves breathing capacity, blood circulation, cardiac endurance, muscle tone and allows you to feel good in your head. Sports practice is undoubtedly an ally of your mental health. It will reduce your anxieties as a future mother and will allow you to better understand the arrival of your baby.
During your pregnancy it is recommended to do sports when you are in good health and the pregnancy does not pose any risk to you or the baby. However, you should take some precautions. If you practiced a regular sporting activity, you can in principle continue the sport you were used to (under the advice of your doctor) but learn to stop when you are tired and do not forget to take breaks regularly.
If you were not a sports fan and start physical activity during your pregnancy, you should take it easy and not force it. Your body will change throughout the months, can generate pain and unusual fragility. So you should be careful with high-intensity sports.
Here are five sports recommended during pregnancy:
Swimming
Swimming is a sport with multiple benefits. This sport brings a real moment of relaxation, allows a toning of all the muscles without pain. The buoyancy of your body being 80%, you can thus perform movements that would be impossible to perform out of the water. Swimming considerably improves respiratory and cardiovascular capacities. It also contributes to the general well-being of the pregnant woman. The state of weightlessness provided by water allows you to relax all your muscles. Stress and tension evaporate and give way to a feeling of well-being.
The walk
Walking in parks, in the city, by the water, on the beach, is the best physical activity for pregnant women. Walking is suitable for both athletic women and those who are less keen on sports. Don't forget to wear a good pair of shoes that support your ankle, and with motivation, you can walk for long hours. It is also a good way to enjoy what surrounds us. Walking helps maintain a stable weight, lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels.
Yoga
Yoga has the same benefits as swimming. It also improves flexibility, chronic back pain, lung capacity and has many other benefits for the body. In addition to being a sport in itself, it is also a perfect preparation for childbirth.
Pilates
Pilates is characterized by a series of gymnastic, relaxation and yoga exercises and movements. The movements are slow and precise to be performed correctly. The benefits of Pilates are improved flexibility, reduced stress, improved breathing and reduced pain related to pregnancy.
The bike
Cycling is a sport that you can practice in moderation. If your belly does not take up too much space, you can cycle while being very careful of others. Indeed, a fall while pregnant would not be desirable. Cycling yes, but with caution! As for mountain biking, it is to be banned because of the many jolts it causes.
These sports are examples of sports that you can practice. The doctor's advice remains absolutely necessary regarding the practice of a sporting activity. And it depends on each pregnancy and its past. But some sports are to be totally banned, such as combat sports, sliding sports that could cause falls, bouncing sports such as jogging, team sports, motor sports or any other sport that presents risks of falls for you and for the baby.
In a word, sport during pregnancy yes! But in moderation and with the advice of the doctor which depends on each person!
