Pregnancy Tips - 2/3 Trimester

For many women, hitting the second trimester of pregnancy is like flipping a switch. Suddenly, the nausea is gone, your appetite returns, and your energy is back. Plus, now you start looking pregnant. While you may not need maternity clothes yet, you may have started leaving buttons open, stealing shirts from his closet and freshening up larger-sized clothes possibly stashed in your closet from your past. Here's what you need to know to maintain that good feeling and look beautiful throughout your pregnancy.

Exercise and Pregnancy

Pregnancy is no excuse for lying on the couch, especially once your energy returns. Moderate levels of physical activity are perfectly safe if you don't have any health problems (but always check with your health care professional first). Exercise is also the best way to reduce the insulin resistance that can lead to gestational diabetes and to maintain normal blood sugar levels if you do develop it.

Walking, bicycling, swimming and even weight training with relatively low weights are all fine. Skip intensive activities like ice hockey, soccer, basketball and downhill skiing; exercises like tennis and horseback riding that could lead to falls; and exercises that require you to lie on your back. And now is probably not the best time to take up jogging, although if you've always jogged, you should be fine. As for intensity, take it down a notch from what you were doing pre-pregnancy. So, for instance, on a scale of 6 to 20, you should be at about a 12 to 14.

If you weren't exercising before your pregnancy, start slow, gradually working your way up to 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. And be careful to drink plenty of water before, during and after you work out, and avoid becoming overheated.

Pregnant Women Ask…
What's the best exercise during pregnancy?

Although there's no evidence as to the "ideal" exercise during pregnancy, we suggest swimming. The water supports your belly, helps you feel lighter, reduces the risk of becoming overheated or falling and provides an excellent aerobic workout.