Get up and get moving. This is a big difference from the old days when pregnant women took to their beds for nine months. Regular exercise during pregnancy can mean less weight gain, less swelling, fewer back problems and less fatigue. Physical fitness also prepares a woman for the effort of labor, and a woman who's fit before and during pregnancy has an easier time regaining her pre-baby figure after childbirth.
Exercise helps boost emotional well-being, too.
Fit women feel better during pregnancy and don't have the blues as badly after the baby is born. Pregnant women do need to be careful during exercise. Check with your doctor about your planned exercise program to make sure there's no medical reason for you to modify your exercise. You probably won't be able to keep your pre-pregnancy exercise intensity. While you're pregnant, avoid risky exercise like horseback riding, skiing or contact sports.