In our last blog, we discussed what kind of exercises you should and shouldn’t be doing during your unplanned pregnancy, ways to find classes and tips on staying motivated. We also included other resources if you have questions or need help. It is a good place to start with, especially if you are new to exercising. So, now that we know that information, it would be good to learn about the overall benefits of exercising during your unplanned pregnancy. That’s our focus for this next blog, part two. We will give you the reasoning behind why exercise is an important tool during your unplanned pregnancy, much like our other previous blog that talks about nutrition.
Whether you go to the gym daily, you only exercise occasionally or it’s just not your cup of tea, Adoption Choices of Colorado is here to lend a helping hand and give you all you need to know about the benefits of exercising while pregnant.
Health Benefits of Exercising During Your Unplanned Pregnancy
When you exercise regularly, there are several benefits that come with it. For instance, exercise helps maintain weight loss and it helps combat health problems such as: stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, several types of cancer, arthritis and falls. Regular exercise also helps boost your mood and energy levels and promotes better sleep. Overall, consistent amounts of exercise while you are pregnant have more pros than cons – even with an unplanned pregnancy.
Exercising while you are pregnant:
- Reduces aches and pains, swelling and constipation
- Boosts mood and energy levels
- Boots immune system and circulation throughout the body
- Promotes better sleep
- Promotes better posture, better endurance and muscle strength
- Prevents excess weight gain
- Lowers the risk of having gestational diabetes and a possible C-section and also promotes a shortened labor.
Emotional Benefits of Exercising during Your Unplanned Pregnancy
Pregnancy takes an emotional and physical toll on your body. Thus, maintaining regular exercise can help you cope and build your endurance for the challenges ahead. There are classes specifically designed for pregnant women, so be sure to check out which ones are available in your area. Prenatal classes and meeting new people who are also pregnant can make you feel more confident about yourself and feel good both mentally and physically, curbing mood swings. It can also give you a sense of accomplishment when you finish an exercise or class, and help you feel more prepared when it comes time to deliver the baby.
Benefits for the Baby
Believe it or not, regular exercise benefits your baby, too . Your child is likely to have a healthier heart, quicker neurological development and normal birth weight, and have less risk factors with respiratory distress syndrome and immune system development.
Healthy Choices
During your unplanned pregnancy, your exercises should aim to increase your heart rate steadily, improve circulation, keep your body flexible and strong, and provide support and control for healthy weight gain. All of this, in turn, will help prepare your muscles for labor and birth.
The Benefits of Exercise
Use pregnancy as your motivation to start exercising, if you don’t already. However, always make sure you consult with your doctor about exercising during your unplanned pregnancy if you have any questions or concerns. Listen to your body as well. It will tell you when you have had enough and need more rest or if you can keep up the pace. Remember to get adequate amounts of sleep, food and water to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and routine when exercising.
If you missed out on the first part of the series, be sure to check out here. Delve into the dos and don’ts of exercising while pregnant. Remember to look for the third and final part of the series where we discuss odd tips and tricks and what each trimester looks like in regards to exercise.
Adoption Choices of Colorado
For more information on adoption please contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. We can be reached via our website or phone 303-670-4401.
About the Author
Taylor Tsakopulos, the bestselling student. She has interned locally in Denver and internationally in Dublin, Ireland, taken classes/workshops and worked odd jobs and yet always comes back to being a student and the desire to learn or create.
She is a jack of all trades (i.e. a Gemini). She is a Denver-based writer, creator, artist and student. A graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU).
When she isn’t creating content she’s off dancing and hiking. Always chasing after new things and experiences. After living and working in Europe, she is hungry for more.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!