Exercising is a vital part to life, and that definitely doesn’t stop when you become pregnant!

Just because you’re a waddling woman with a big belly and back pain doesn’t entitle you to skip this healthy regiment. Being active doesn’t mean going to a gym necessarily, but you must get your butt moving for at least 30 minutes almost every single day. This can be walking for 30 minutes with your dog in the afternoon or breaking it up- 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after dinner. You can go on a bike ride, go swimming or participate in a yoga class.

What Not to Do…for a safe pregnancy

Obviously be smart about what type of exercise you choose. Clearly, football, soccer, softball, horseback riding, gymnastics, kickboxing, downhill skiing, hockey, cross fit, plyometrics and the like should be avoided for a safe pregnancy. Use your head-nothing that will hurt the baby by hitting your stomach, shaking the baby or risking injury of falling.

Benefits to Exercise During Pregnancy

Exercise can be invaluable in making your pregnancy healthy and happy. For starters, it can help with constipation, backache, fatigue, and varicose veins. And not only can it aid in improving your sleep, but it also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety. (“Why Exercise During Pregnancy?” womenshealth.gov)

As if that all wasn’t enough, Active women have shorter labors, easier deliveries, quicker recovery times, and can be into shape faster postpartum. (Snuggs, Exercise and Pregnancy, suite101.com) And of course, what’s good for mom is good for baby. Exercise gets the blood circulating, which positively affects the placenta (which gives baby oxygen and nutrients). (Booth and Alpino, Exercise during pregnancy helps you stay healthy” babyfit.com)

Talk to you Doctor before

No matter what your activity preference may be, just be sure to verify whatever you chose with your midwife or doctor before starting. There are a few cases when it could be unsafe including: carrying twins or more, risk of premature labor, heart or lung disease, bleeding, ruptured membranes, placenta previa, (“Why exercise during pregnancy” womenshealth.com) complications with past pregnancies, severe diabetes, seizure disorders, asthma, anemia, muscle or joint problems, repeated C sections, previous miscarriage, a sedentary lifestyle or if you’re extremely over or underweight. (“exercising while you’re pregnant” babyfit.com)

HYDRATION!

Assuming you’re in the clear with your doc, remember to drink plenty of water before, during, and after working out. You’ll need more water than you think you need. It’s also more difficult to manage your body now with your big belly, big boobs and your imbalance! So be cautious and go slower than you think you need to until you get used to this new body. Patience is key here (biggest lesson I’ve learned during this process!)

FLEXIBILITY

All of your ligaments and joints are looser than ever, allowing your body to expand for the growing baby and uterus. Overstretching will not do you any good. And neither will lying flat on your back. After sixteen weeks, avoid doing any exercise that has you in that position. The weight of your newly heavy uterus on a major blood vessel can affect blood flow to the placenta. Not cool. Be careful when stretching and doing yoga!

Pregnancy and Healthy Food

It’s been incredibly difficult to eat healthy food since I’ve been pregnant. I don’t crave anything uber healthy and the thought of going into the kitchen to make a green smoothie makes me want to vomit. I don’t want any of my staple foods: nothing raw, no ginger tea, no chocolate? It’s the strangest thing.

First Trimester

The 2nd month of pregnancy was the most difficult for me. I wanted the classic “I’m sick/hungover” foods.. anything to take the nausea away. This downward spiral began with sweet potato fries, and then slipped into zucchini fries, which then stumbled into regular french fries as long as they were from somewhere that claimed anything somewhat related to health like In and Out (made from real potatoes! cooked in Cholesterol free oil!) or Astro Burger (unlike McDonald’s: the devil). For weeks all I craved was fries, squishy challah bread, matzoh ball soup from a local deli, and eggs. I later discovered that potatoes and eggs are both high in folic acid, which is my pretend reasoning behind it being okay.

guilt?

To be honest, I stopped feeling guilty very early on about this stuff. Yes, I would prefer to eat raw beautiful organic foods. Yes, I would prefer to have a green juice or smoothie at least once a day, and be as vegan as possible. However, this baby is in control, not me. This is the baby’s body, I am purely a vessel. I am obviously being as healthy as I can possibly be, choking down veggies, taking my iron and folic acid, and getting enough protein and fats.

Cool things about being preggers

A really interesting thing has happened in this pregnancy: my lactose intolerance has vanished. I can eat any type of cheese or dairy i want: NO STOMACH ACHE!!!!! I still don’t drink regular milk, always rice, coconut or almond milk, but i can eat CHEESE! It’s been pretty awesome. My favorite snack is Caprese Salad–organic mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes with ground pepper and balsamic. Delish! I’m sure my lactose intolerance will return, and that’s fine with me. All of this is somewhat dreamy anyway. I read about another woman whose asthma completely disappeared while pregnant (but returned, unfortunately, a few months after the baby came). It’s truly amazing how different our bodies are in this state. Amazing what our hormones control and have the power to alter!

Moderation! Organic! Use your head.

My point of this babbling is this: whatever is happening with your body when your preggers is completely fine and normal. If you’re craving random foods, don’t feel guilt. Everything in moderation. Make sure you get enough veggies and fresh fruit. If you’re going to eat meat, make sure it’s organic and grass-fed. ENJOY THIS PROCESS it will be over before you know it, and wallowing or obsessing over how many calories you’re eating is an absolute joke. No worries, the baby feels EVERYTHING! Try not to stress out…laugh at yourself, I crack up the entire time I’m in the drive thru line getting a breakfast sandwich or denying a vegetable.

Also, in no time you’ll be back to yourself. I’m already working out practically like I used to and today I was completely raw until about 4p… it’s happening quickly. Cherish every moment (pregnant or not!)

Now that I’ve “come out” to the world about being pregnant it’s time to share all the knowledge I’ve been acquiring throughout the past 2 1/2 months!  (Facebook & technology has changed the world in so many ways!! so easy, with just a click, my world knew!)

In my opinion, Iron is absolutely the MOST important supplement/nutrient to get into your body when you’re pregnant.

This metal carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body. Its other big role is to make blood. Blood volume increases by 50% during pregnancy. Blood feeds the placenta and uterine lining. Without large members of oxygen-rich red blood cells, your baby won’t grow.

For a straight hit of iron, eating red meat or liver is a sure bet. Clams, chicken liver, duck and oysters are excellent sources. (if you’re vegan or vegetarian, look below for an awesome option) Fish, poultry, spinach, dried apricots and unsulphered or black-strap molasses are decent sources. Grains and dairy foods are not.

It’s also wise to eat iron-friendly foods, including fresh produce for folate and vitamin C, banans for B5 and any meat, milk or eggs for B12.

I highly recommended Floradix, a liquid supplement with organic iron in an absorbable form (ferrous gluconate) instead of inorganic iron, which can cause constipation. I take this almost every day. I love the way it tastes and I instantly have more energy after consuming it. I don’t eat red meat and haven’t for almost 10 years, so it’s vital to get it from a supplement source. I’ve taken it for years, (I’m slightly anemic) usually every day when I’m on my period and here and there when I’m not.

Another option is taking ground liver capsules. If you’re not anemic, don’t take iron. The body doesn’t excrete iron easily, and too much can be toxic.