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Thankfully the answer is a resounding No, you aren’t harming your baby. In fact, there are benefits to running while pregnant. Yessiree, there are! First off mommy is healthier, and we all know that healthy moms mean healthy babies, right? But did you also know that:
- Exercise reduces the risk of preterm delivery Source: HealthDay News
- Running during pregnancy reduces fatigue, nausea, constipation and lower back pain Source: Act Now BC
- Maternity exercise may help prevent gestational diabetes Source: Science Daily
- Maternity fitness contributes to shorter labor & less delivery complications, including fewer C-sections Source: BabyZone
</p> - Moms to be who exercise also have less swelling of extremities Source: runningskirts.com
- Running also has benefits to the baby:
- A regular pregnancy fitness regimen better prepares baby for transition from womb
- Pregnancy running increases blood circulation & placental efficiency
- Running while pregnant also increases newborn baby’s capacity to self calm & self quiet
- Regular exercise decreases baby fat without decreasing normal growth
- Cardio fitness leads to increased blood flow from placenta which supplies nutrition & oxygen to the fetus
- Mommies who run have increased fetal movements, which studies have shown leads to quicker development of oral language skills
- If you’re a regular runner, the experts say you should be able to follow your usual program to a certain extent. Your program will need modifying as your pregnancy develops and depending on how you feel yourself. Listen to your body. If it says rest, then rest.
- Exercising to breathlessness can signal that not enough oxygen is getting to the baby. Remember to take it easy.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Even though you’ll be running to the washroom even more than normal, it’s important that you don’t dehydrate.
- Wear comfortable running shoes with strong ankle support and keep to flat ground. This will help reduce injuries and ankle sprains.
- Dizziness
- Faintness
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Uterine contractions
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking
- Heart palpitations
Running and exercising through pregnancy is possible, and also has many benefits to both mommy and baby. As with any exercise program, you will need to check with your doctor first as there are circumstances where exercise during pregnancy is contraindicated (ie: placenta previa, pre-term labour). You will need to tweak your program, even Paula reduced her training intensity. Given all of the benefits, I guess the real question is, can you afford not to continue running? Run on, my pregnant friends!
Photo credit: Clare & Dave
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