Dont's before beginning. The General Guidelines for prenatal exercise summarizes the exercise types, frequency and duration suggested for women having non-complicated pregnancies. Specific exercises and illustrations for strengthening exercises , general comments on aerobic activities and a basic set of exercises for toning your pelvic region are presented. Some women having a high risk pregnancy which requires very light physical activity or bedrest may be able to do some gentle exercise to maintain strength and muscle tone, but this is not true in all cases. Always get specific advice from your obstetrician regarding your risks and limitations, and never do any exercise without medical approval in advance.
Labor is often easier for regular exercisers as well.
There is some research that suggests exercising women have shorter labor, less risk of delivering prematurely, handle body stress better, and have a lower a lower rate of C-section. However, the research is not conclusive and exercise is not a guarantee for a smooth delivery. Below is a simple review of the physical changes a woman's body undergoes. Because of these changes, pregnant women are physically more susceptible to injury and strain with movement. Some simple things you can do to protect yourself during routine movement required in daily living are posture corrections, using proper lifting technique and checking weekly for abdominal separation which, if present, will require you to take extra precautions.