Moving around and staying active during pregnancy can have life-long benefits on your overall health. Apart from this, your baby will also start reaping the benefits in utero. If you’re wondering why you should exercise, here are 10 good reasons for the same:

1. Better control over your weight: When you’re pregnant, weight gain is healthy and natural. However, too much weight gain can have a lot of disadvantages. According to research, if you exercise regularly, you may put on a few kilos lesser than pregnant women who don’t work out, while still staying within a healthy weight-gain range.

2. Labor and Delivery may get easier: Exercise can help strengthen your abs and give you a fit cardiovascular system. These are believed to aid in the stamina needed for the pushing stage of labor and delivery. A study found that those who did prenatal water aerobics regularly were 58 percent less likely to request pain medication during labor than non-exercisers.

3. Lower the risk of Gestational Diabetes: High blood sugar during pregnancy can put you at an extremely high risk of developing type II diabetes in the decade after delivering, and also raises the odds of preterm delivery, or having an overweight baby. Exercise may help prevent or delay your need for insulin or other medications.

4. Lowers the likelihood of getting a Backache: Around two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain. Exercises such as water workouts, yoga and pelvic tilts can offer relief. Exercise during the second half or pregnancy is believed to be especially helpful.

5. Enjoy More Flexibility: The pregnancy hormone relaxin is responsible for loosening of pelvic joints in preparation for delivery. It also relaxes the rest of your joints. Exercising with careful stretches such as those done in prenatal yoga workouts, can help you remain in top shape and offer flexibility.

6. Lowers the possibility of interventions: By exercising, you are more likely to avoid forceps delivery, C-section, or other interventions. Regular exercisers are believed to be at 75 percent lower risk for a forceps delivery, 55 percent less risk of an episiotomy and up to four times less likely to have a Cesarean section.

7. More Likely to be fitter in middle age: A study that followed women for 20 years after delivery, found that those who’d exercised throughout the pregnancy were able to run two miles, 2-and-a-half minutes faster than those who’d taken a workout break while pregnant. This means you are likely to be fitter in your middle ages if you exercise regularly during your pregnancy.

8. You may experience Shorter labor: A study found that among well-conditioned women who delivered vaginally, those who had continued exercising throughout their pregnancy experienced active labor for 4 hours and 24 minutes, compared with 6 hours and 22 minutes for those who’d quit training early on. So if you want a shorter labor, be sure to work it out during your pregnancy.

9. Faster Recovery after Delivery: Compared to new moms who were inactive during pregnancy, those who exercised are more likely to socialize and enjoy hobbies and entertainment post-baby. They just seem to cope better with the demands of new motherhood.

10. You may be able to avoid Prenatal Depression: If you exercise outdoors, you are benefitted by the bright lights of the sun, which has anti-depressant effects. Around 12 to 20 percent of pregnant women experience depression, which is linked to poor sleep after delivery.

With so many benefits of exercising during pregnancy, it is essential you stay active through your nine months and beyond. To know more about prenatal exercise and tips, get in touch with our doctors at KIMS Cuddles.

*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.