Strengthening your muscles will help your body carry the extra weight while you're pregnant.
Combining exercise with a healthy diet can increase your chance of maintaining a healthier weight during your pregnancy.
It will also help you to achieve a basic level of fitness.
Active for up to 30 minutes
Being active for up to 30 minutes most days during pregnancy can:
- help reduce backache, constipation, bloating, and swelling
- maintain your muscle strength and fitness
- increase your energy levels
- improve your mood and feeling of wellbeing
- help prevent or treat gestational diabetes
- help reduce high blood pressure
- improve your posture
- help prepare you for labour and birth
Not being active during pregnancy may lead to:
- loss of muscular and cardiovascular fitness
- excessive weight gain
- increased risk of gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy)
- varicose veins
- physical problems such as lower back pain
Watch a video on staying healthy during your pregnancy
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