2: Prenatal Exercise

Exercise is important.  Try to stay active your entire pregnancy.  Of course, give yourself the needed breaks because you'll tire easily and don't push too hard. Staying active will improve the experience of your labor.  A friend of mine at work, JM we'll call her, told me the more active I am, the earlier she'll be born and the labor will be easier. It seemed to prove true with me; McKayla was born two weeks early and my actual delivery was only 24 minutes long.

Make sure you do an actual prenatal workout or pregnancy safe workouts and always check with your doctor before doing any workouts.  

The video I used was: Prenatal Video

If you don't already have a resistance cord: Light, Medium, Heavy Resistance Cord

And I just discovered the following that may be worth purchasing.  I may get this for pregnancy number two.:  Gaiam-Baby-Ready-Yoga-Kit

Another exercise that is highly recommended (pregnant or not) are Kegel exercises or pelvic toning. Kegel exercises work out your pelvic floor muscles and can also help with labor and the healing process(Eisenberg, Murkoff, & Hathaway, 1996).  See the following website for further information: kegel exercises

I worked out with the videos when I could, but the bulk of my workout was a lot of walking at my job.  From the parking lot to my building varied from 7 to 15 minutes one way.  I always took the stairs unless I wasn't feeling that great.

Normal weight gain is 25-35 lbs by the end of your pregnancy for an average woman (Eisenberg, Murkoff, & Hathaway, 1996).  I gained exactly 35 lbs! I was really getting nervous there at the end!  I believe that working out and attempting not to indulge in my favorites, sweets and potatoes, really helped me out.  In fact, my craving was for french fries (or any type of potato).  If someone said french fry at work, I was going to a fast food restaurant after work for a large fry!  That was mainly during my first and second trimesters, though.  Didn't last the whole time.

So, try to keep active.  It will be so much better for you and your unborn baby! :-D

References:

Eisenberg, A., Murkoff, H. E., & Hathaway, S. E. (1996).  What to Expect When You’re Expecting. New York: Workman Publishing.