Running While Pregnant!

My Running Game Is Back

I am finally feeling back to normal which is beyond exciting for me. I dreaded the first three months of my pregnancy because every morning I had to pry myself out of bed and then fight the dreaded nausea from the time my eyes saw light until the time they closed at night and then insomnia took the best of me and I would fight the nausea from 2am until I was able to finally fall back to sleep usually with the help of Tylenol PM. My running game was slowly coming to a halt even though I swore I would continue to run just like I was not knowing that my body would state otherwise. I continued to fight through the exhaustion knowing that I had a ten mile race to complete at my 12th week and God was definitely on my side that day because the heat was extreme and my body wasn't really prepared for 10 miles. As soon as I crossed that finish line with my arms wide up in the air cheering for myself I stopped running. It was completely depressing to not have the strength to put on sneakers and just get out and go for a run or even a light jog. I could barely get my butt off the couch or even read a book from start to finish. So now at almost 16 weeks I can say that I am a much happier, more patient, and focused mom because I have energy and am running again. I was so proud of myself that I did 3 miles on Tuesday, 2 miles with the kids in the jogger on Thursday and a whopping 4.5 miles today. Just pure joy and excitement which has taken away my stress and made me feel like me again. Hooray for being pregnant and feeling good and most of all for finally being happy about it. The best feeling of all is that because I am staying fit I had the advantage to feel my baby moving very early. I felt the first movement at 14 weeks and now can regularly lay down and feel little movements of my happy baby.

 Thank You! Proof Positive of a very Happy Mommy!

Benefits of Pregnancy Running

There is a lot of recent research about the safety and benefits of running during pregnancy for both mom and baby, some of these include:

Healthier Moms

-regular exercise during pregnancy builds stamina and prepares & strengthens muscles and body for delivery
-running during pregnancy reduces fatigue, nausea and constipation
 -maternity exercise has been proven to help prevent gestational diabetes
-maternity fitness contributes to shorter labor & less delivery complications
-fit mommies have fewer c-sections
-running moms also experience less lower back pain
-moms to be who exercise also have less swelling of extremities

Happier Moms

-regular exercise and/or running promotes well being and less postpartum depression
-pregnancy fitness regimens lead to quick recoveries & return to pre-pregnancy weight
-a fit mom has less anxiety & stress related to pregnancy -better sleep, less insomnia

Yummy Mummies

-running during pregnancy prevents excessive weight gain
-cardio exercise during pregnancy increases blood flow to skin = healthy glow
-pregnant running improves posture & appearance
-It's just makes you look & feel better!
-A regular moderate running program leads to increased energy in first and second trimesters
-Maintaining fitness during pregnancy helps moms regain pre-pregnancy body quicker
-Running and other moderate impact exercise leads to less development of varicose veins

 

Happier Babies

-A regular pregnancy fitness regimen better prepares baby for transition from womb
-Pregnancy Running increases blood circulation & placental efficiency
-Running whilst pregnant also increases newborn baby's capacity to self calm & self quiet

 

Healthier Babies

-Regular exercise decreases baby fat without decreasing normal growth
-Cardio fitness leads to increased blood flow from placenta which supplies nutrition & oxygen to the fetus 

Smarter Babies

-Mommies who run have increased fetal movements, which studies have shown leads to quicker development of oral language skills