Ten Pregnancy Exercise Commandments

The following are ten tips for exercising while pregnant to continue living a healthy life.

1. - Exercise on a regular schedule is much better than a one-time session of exhaustive exercise, scheduling your routine at least 3 times per week.

2. - Take off your list any exercises requiring you to lie flat on your back, particularly after the first trimester to avoid decreased cardiac output associated to this position in pregnant women.

3. - Watch your heart rate, keeping it at a targeted heart rate of 140 beats per minute or less. Stop if the rate goes up.

4. - Oxygen for aerobic exercising decreases while you are pregnant so be aware modifying its intensity.

5. - Exercise keeping in mind your body needs around 300 additional calories per day that must not be burned off.

6. - Decrease your exercise gradually after conception and resume it gradually after labor and delivery.

7. - At any stage of your pregnancy stop exercising if you feel fatigued and do not exercise until exhaustion.

8. - Do not overheat, believing your daily exercise will burn any extra calories beyond your recommended daily requirements.

9. - Make sure you are exercising in optimal conditions, including hydration, appropriate clothing, and adequate environment, not too cold or warm.

10. - Ask your doctor if you are planning to keep weight-bearing exercises, otherwise it will be better to suspend them or reduce their intensity.

At any time, consider safe activities as either walking, swimming or cycling moderately to minimize any risk of injury while keeping your exercise routine throughout your pregnancy always observing your physical capability.