Is Walking enough Exercise during Pregnancy ?

I completely understand that on some days during pregnancy you feel exhausted, nauseous and barely have the capacity to move. This can lead to choosing walking as your main from of exercise or you could just be defaulting to it due to confusion over what you can and can’t do. However, here is the truth bomb to the common question I am asked, “Is walking enough exercise during pregnancy?”

_{The Answer is NO}

Walking is a great form of low-impact cardio for pregnancy, BUT you need to do resistance / strength based training and focus on your mobility.

Why is Resistance Training so Important ?

• To help stablise your joints as your ligaments and connective tissues softens during pregnancy
• To help prevent pelvic pain and back pain (excessive walking can contribute to pelvic pain here’s why)
• To minimise abdominal separation or diastasis recti
• To optimally prepare you for birth so you have the strength and stamina for an active labour and recovery post c-section
• To help reduce the length of second stage labour (pushing phase)
• To help reduce your perception of pain during labour (remember a contraction is YOUR muscles…think of a bicep curl)
• To support your post-pregnancy journey, you will feel stronger and have created essential neural pathways (regardless of the type of birth you have) for a swifter recovery)

Check out my postnatal program here (suitable before your 6 week postpartum check out if you have no contra-indications)

So what exactly is resistance based training?

Resistance training doesn’t just mean lifting heavy weights, it is any exercise that causes your muscles to contract using an external resistance. Resistance based training includes exercises using bands, dumb-bells, your own bodyweight and much more.

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Start your pregnancy exercise journey here…

Keen to discover how this could work for you ?

Join my Face to Face Pregnancy Exercise Workshop

Or discover my Online Pregnancy Program RIGHT HERE

Grab my complimentary pregnancy exercise TOOLKIT HERE

Or connect with me here if you have any questions or send me a DM via Instagram below.