Why Pregnancy Exercise?

Want an easy and enjoyable way to improve the health of your baby as well as your own? Get active!

Studies are showing what many mothers have long believed to be true, fit mothers are more comfortable during pregnancy, experience shorter second stage labor, and have healthier babies.

In 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued new guidelines for exercise in pregnancy. The newer, less restrictive recommendations reflect the conclusions researchers have been making in the past ten years. Moderate activity during pregnancy has positive health outcomes for the mother and baby, and has no negative outcomes in a normal pregnancy.

Elizabeth Noble, noted expert on women's health and author of Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year, likens childbirth to throwing a party. She says you underestimate how much work it is to plan and prepare, then the party flies by and there is a lot more work to get the house back in order afterwards. She expresses concern that while the hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy happen over 9 months, the changes are reversed in only a matter of weeks. The post-partum mother needs her strength and stamina back in a short time, and proper exercise can help achieve that.

This section of the Birthing Naturally website will address some of the most common concerns and point you in the right direction to find solutions to your pregnancy fitness problems.

What would you like next?

Learn comfort techniques for labor.

Explore the process of labor.

Find products to help you enjoy pregnancy and prepare to give birth..

Read research about birth options.

Find natural birth resources in your area.