An Osteopath’s Health Guide for Pregnant Women
As any mother will confirm, pregnancy had a tremendous impact on the body. During pregnancy, a woman’s body gets by 30 pounds heavier on average, which completely changes her posture. Carrying that extra weight around is no simple feat, as it is both strenuous and exhausting for the body. In order to relieve you from the heavy burdens of pregnancy, and to prepare yourself for childbirth some of our leading osteopaths have compiled various tips and exercises for you to carry out.
Work-out Sessions: It is a good idea to maintain a consistent work-out routine throughout your pregnancy, but your routine has to be modified based on what stage of pregnancy you are in. For the first and second trimesters, having three to four 30-minute work-out sessions a week is great for keeping the blood circulation going. During the last trimester, you are best advised to stick to 20 minute sessions, because your added weight will otherwise make the longer sessions way too strenuous.
Types of Exercises: While cardio exercises can be beneficial, we recommend exercises that keep your heart rate controlled. It is good to break out sweat, but do not allow your heart rate to exceed 145 bpm. Exercises such as squats and lunges (without weights) are highly recommended, as well as swimming and brisk-walking. Swimming is particularly rewarding during your final trimester, as the water supports your body and relieves muscle tension. Cycling and gentle aerobics are also highly recommended. Carry out many short stretches before and after each work-out to stimulate the flood flow and improve the flexibility of your joints and muscles.
Movements/Exercises to Avoid: Refrain from doing high-impact and contact sports, such as squash and football. It is also important to never hold a stretch position for longer than six seconds - pregnant bodies release the ‘relaxing’ hormone (which is necessary for labour) prematurely if a stretch is held for too long, which is potentially damaging to the joint areas. Also avoid lifting heavy object during pregnancy - do not overexert yourself.
Dietary tips: Having a balanced diet is essential for your own, and your baby’s well-being. Just because you need to feed two people does not mean you eat twice as much as usual. A pregnant body only needs approximately 2500 calories a day. Make sure you eat something from all food groups everyday so as to get the proper energy and nutrition: dairy products (milk, eggs), protein (meat, fish, and poultry), whole wheat, and fruits and vegetables.
See an Osteopath: In order to keep a close eye on the rapid changes your body is undergoing, it is advisable to see an osteopath early on in the first trimester. This way, if your body is not responding to exercises as it should, we can step in and help you change your routine before you damage your body.
With backaches, mood swings, and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm you, pregnancy is no easy process. However, with the help of an osteopath and the techniques above, hopefully your passage from pregnant woman to loving mother will not only be bearable, but enjoyable.
