Why You MUST Stretch While You Are Pregnant Part I

When you think of a typical pregnancy exercise program, stretching and warming up are easily forgotten. But they are a MUST for any safe and effective workout.


Aside from just feeling good, stretching helps to keep your pregnant body healthy in a number of ways:

Prevents injuries by pulling your body gently back into balance.

Increases circulation - more blood flow to the muscles means a healthier muscle.

Gives you more energy! Along with greater blood flow comes more oxygen which keeps us from feeling sleepy during the day.

Eases the aches and pains of pregnancy by loosening the tight muscles that cause low back pain, headaches and other common complaints.

Enhances your workout by increasing your range of motion.

Improves your posture which helps you look and feel better as your body continues to change.

Keep in mind that being gumby is not the goal - being too flexible can be just as dangerous as not being flexible enough.

So, it's important to stretch only those muscles that are tight and to combine your stretching with a good pregnancy strength training program.

For tips on how to stretch properly, look for our next post.

For specifics on the stretches and exercise that are right for you during pregnancy, check out www.FitandHealthyPregnancy.com