Yummy Mummies: Getting fit before pregnancy

Ok, so you’re not going to do a Demi and pose nude on the cover of Vanity Fair with a baby bump. Nonetheless, there are plenty of good reasons to shape up before you start baking your bun. It’s the best way to ensure you feel fab and fit when your pregnancy hormones start raging. It also means you’re more likely to have a healthy baby.

Why shape up beforehand?

Thinking you’ll wait until the last minute? Start exercising once the bun is in the oven? If you want the best pregnancy outcomes and the healthiest baby, think again. Not only is it harder to get into exercise when your pregnancy comes into full swing, if you wait until a couple of months into the pregnancy, your baby has already completed much of the major development in your womb, without the benefits of exercise.

So before you throw out your contraception, drag out your gym shoes and start training. It will be a big weight off your shoulders (and possibly your thighs) if you develop an exercise routine before you get pregnant.

Don’t forget, you’ll need to stick with it as you move through pregnancy. If you are used to regular exercise before you get pregnant, it’ll be much easier to stick to an exercise routine during pregnancy. Easier doesn’t mean easy, however, and you may find you need a little inspiration every now and then.

Knowing your exercise is helping your unborn baby to grow strong and healthy is probably just the inspiration you need. But if you need a little more, think about the benefits you’re getting – exercise doesn’t just help your body look great, it also helps you feel great.

Body image: Absolutely fabulous, darling

Exercising beforehand also means you aren’t as likely to gain a truckload of weight during the pregnancy – a bonus in anyone’s handbook. As the pregnancy goes on, your body will change and grow rapidly. It might wobble about or feel strange. Your new baby bulk might even cause you to feel a bit down when you can’t fit into an increasing proportion of your wardrobe.

That’s another good reason to exercise. Feeling fit in the body is also means feeling fit in your mind, and vice versa. Exercise can help you feel good about the changes in your body, rather than anxious or depressed.

Dear Mr Stork

Being in shape also increases your chances of a healthy pregnancy. If you’re a bit chubby, getting rid of the extra kilos by exercising can even increase your chances of getting pregnant. You don’t have to run a marathon – moderate exercise several times a week is a great way to feel good about your body and increase your chances of a stork visit.

Medically, women who exercise before pregnancy have a lower risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Your baby is also less likely to develop diabetes and obesity.

Demi ‘less is’ Moore

As you can see, Demi had the right idea that being pregnant is a beautiful thing. It may mean a little bit of work at the gym or some brisk walks on the beach, but it will be worth it. When the pregnancy test shows a little smiley face, you’ll know you’re well prepared. You’ll feel great, enjoy your ‘glow’ and give your baby the best start in life. And if you do want to strip down for some saucy pregnant photos, you’ll feel like a million bucks.

More information

For more information on pre-pregnancy exercise, including an introduction to exercise before pregnancy, gestational weight gain and fertility, see Exercise before Pregnancy.