Lower Body Workout During Pregnancy

ZUMBA...find a class in your area at Zumba.com. low-impact Latin cardio dance and you will wiggle you hips and have so much fun. Best workout around.

C.

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Squats will not only tone your legs, but it's one of the best exercises to build muscle that help the labor process too!!

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have you tried doing squats and lunges in a pool?? It adds a little resistance and the water makes you feel weightless! I loved swimming during my pregnancies. If a pool is not available add a resistance band around your ankles for lunges and doing sidesteps with a resistance band will get those muscles working as well. But if you have access to a pool, I would definately reccomend making that part of your workout it's both relaxing and gets you sweating. :)

Walking is perfect. You're probably tone already but water weight hides it. More rest and drinking more water might help. Also, avoid sugar as much as possible. Sugar made me swell up worse than salt. If you tire yourself too much you'll get leg cramps. Hang in there, it's temporary.

Hi K.,
I did water aerobics and aqua flex classes, which are pilates classes in the water, during my whole pregnancy. It was great! (The YMCA is where I took.) I know my local Y even has heated saline water which cuts down on the chlorine fumes. My doctor approved these exercises for me, but I would also ask your doctor.

K., make sure you check with your doctor first. It's important to clear exercises that could affect your heart rate, uterus, and pelvic muscles before doing them. And make sure you never try to hold your urine during exercise time - you could actually bring on early labor like that. (Dehydration can trigger early labor as well.)

Good luck!
D.

I used a work out dvd by Lisa Hart One Hot Mama. It had a salsa and yoga workout on it.

Get a fitness ball you can lay your chest across it and do leg lifts and just sitting on it can work your side and hip muscles. There's many other exercises you can do also. It can later be used as a birthing ball during labor. I used mine during late pregnancy cause my hips hurt due to my son being very low in my pelvis for several weeks and its to only place I could sit comfortably. I put it at my computer sesk and used it as my computer chair LOL

squats and lunges are two excellent ones for lower body.

I would recommend prenatal yoga. It's relaxing and focuses specifically on the muscles you are straining now by carrying the baby and then helps strengthen the muscles you'll need for labor and delivery. I used the prenatal yoga dvd by Sheva Rea. She incorporates lots of lower body exercises in this video. Good luck and congrats!

I agree: squats, lunges, and also bridges are great!!

I'm not in SC, but look into a type of mommy class if you can. I LOVE my Stroller Fit group and I know there are others like Stroller Strides I think. They have a trainer with you for every excersize so you feel safe and it is other moms just like you with your babies!

Blessings,
Amanda