Becoming pregnant can undoubtedly be one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. Aside from just making decisions based on their health, they now also need to consider the health of their unborn child developing inside them. And here at Virtual PT NYC, our team can provide help in this area. We want to advise on what physical activities are best for pregnant women, so you can keep both you and your child protected.

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Benefits Of Exercising

Before diving into what activities to consider, it is first essential to understand why being physically active during pregnancy is important. While there will be times when resting is your best option, it’s also important to find time to remain physically active. Exercising is beneficial to your body at most points in your life, including when you are pregnant. As long as you have consulted with a doctor before doing so, the benefits you can reap from being active during pregnancy include:

• Boosting energy and mood levels.
• Improving your sleeping patterns.  
• Preventing excess weight gain.
• Reducing backaches.
• Lowering the risk of gestational diabetes.

Activities To Consider Performing

Here at Virtual PT NYC, our main objective is to help all patients remain healthy. Whether you have recently been injured or just found out that you are pregnant, our team understands that exercise and physical activity can be the best way to improve your overall health. Pregnant women need to be aware that starting an exercise regimen will help both them and their unborn baby. However, you can’t just perform any exercise, which is why you need to ensure you speak with one of our team members first. Doing so will help you learn what activities to take part in, which include the below:

• Walking.
• Swimming.
• Cycling.
• Stationary bikes.
• Low weight strength training.
• Low-impact aerobic classes.

Activities To Avoid

Just as there are beneficial activities for pregnant women, there are also exercises that should be avoided. Knowing what they are will help keep you protected and safe. As trained physical therapists, our staff is well versed in this area. That is why our team highly recommends avoiding any of the following:

• Exercises where you lay flat on your back after the first trimester.
• Contact sports.
• Activities that come with a high risk of falling.
• Actions that lead to hitting the water with great force.
• Exercises that can result in direct trauma to the abdomen.
  

When To Pause Activities

Even if you decide only to perform the activities that our team deems safe, there are still precautions you need to take. While exercising can be very beneficial, pushing yourself too hard can harm both you and your child. That is why our team needs you to be aware of the warning signs to watch for. If you find yourself dealing with any of the below as a result of your activity levels, we recommend putting a pause to them immediately:  

• Vaginal bleeding.
• Dizziness.
• Increased shortness of breath at the beginning of your exercise session.
• Chest pains.
• Calf pain and swelling.
• Muscle weakness that affects balance.
• Painful uterine contractions during your rest after exercise.

Working With Our Team

At Virtual PT NYC, our team understands the importance of physical activity. Pregnant women need to be especially aware of what can be done to improve their health. That is why we are highly committed to sharing this information with them. By scheduling an appointment with us, you can learn what activities you should be performing and what you need to be avoiding. When you need more information on this topic, don’t hesitate to contact our team to schedule an appointment today.