**Working Out**

I work in the mental health field and like you I was exhausted by the end of the day, but I forced myself to do low impact swim areboics. I felt so weightless in the water and found that my baby slept better, or maybe I just didn't feel all the kicks though out the night.

Hi there
I walked a lot during my first pregnancy and I did have an easy delivery, I dilated to 5 cm with absolutely no pain!! Now I am waiting my second in 6 weeks, I try to go to the gym few times every week. So my advice to you is to walk in your neighborhood, mall, gym or any place to keep your muscles ready for the big day. Good luck!

You should try swimming, they even have pre-natel water classes. Not only will you get some muscle strength, you will feel great in the pool because you are weightless.
For the classes you can look at the classes at the hospital you are delivering at or go to various health clubs in the city and check, alot of places offer them.

Well, it sounds like you get alot of working out with your job huh? Do you have digital cable? On there, you can go to the excersize and fittness and there is a chair routine that might be good for you. I worked in daycare when I was pregnant with my first child and I worked right up till i had her in the two year old room, so I know that it is hard work and alot of work. Take care and if I can be of any help let me know. I am a labor doula and work with pregnant moms all the way up till the baby is born, attend the birth and then help afterwards. Have you thought about maybe taking a prenatal yoga or something or water aeorbics for pregnant mammas? They have them.

S. Bailey CLD
aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

When I was pregnant with my first I walked on my treadmill inside and also did some light weights. I had a very easy delivery, and lost the baby weight pretty quickly. When I had my twins, I had complications so I was not able to work out much, and I hated it.

It sounds like you are at your physical limits with running around all day watching after kids. If you have some energy when you get home, maybe do a little something. But if not, I am sure you are fine! You have a strenous job! Congrats!

Water aerobics or swimming would be best for you and baby. Check out local YMCA, high schools, or gyms. I swam laps and did water aerobics with my first son and he's now on the Stevenson High School swim team!

I highly recommend taking a prenatal yoga class. I am the mother of a toddler and an elementary school teacher. I understand how physically exhausting working with children can be, and yoga helps me to feel relaxed, healthy and strong (without overdoing it). I think it is especially great during pregnancy, as it will help you during your labor.

I live in the city and can recommend two locations: Sweet Pea's yoga, which specializes in birth and family yoga, and Bloom yoga (Dee the instructor is great!)

Oh dear..your schedule at work sounds exhausting. Eating right, taking time for you and exercising are so critical and necessary, especially now. My doctor reminded me that it's called 'labor', because it will be some of the hardest work you'll ever do. Women who are in good physical shape and healthy generally have a better time during labor and delivery. Stretching will help and will be an easy way for you to ease into a regular routine. The suggestion of yoga is a good one. Be sure to do stretches on the floor, as well as standing and find a few to do with a partner. I bet that 'best guy' in the world will help you. Leg lifts are good, starting slowly, to strengthen abdominals. Strong stomach muscles help during labor and make recovery much easier. You'll find it much easier to retain your pre baby figure if you're in shape now. Don't worry about doing everything at once. 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night are much better than no exercise at all. Much better. You'll gradually have more energy, too. You can increase the time gradually. There are many exercises your pediatrician or nurse practitioner may recommend. Check baby magazines, other new moms, or the internet. It sounds as if you do a lot of walking at work, so I'd concentrate on the stretches and toning. I exercised until the day before each of my sons were born. My labor was short and I recovered very quickly with little weight gain. Maybe the exercise helped. Good luck and good health to you.

Hi,
You probably pass out when you come home at the end of the day because you've been running around after kids all day. It sounds like you get PLENTY of exercise. I have a 2 and a 3 1/2 yr old and I feel like I get a work out most days when I take them to the mall, library, or to the pool or park because I'm running after them and my son is not potty trained yet, so I'm lifting him a lot and of course, they always need lifting for hugs and kisses. Sounds like with your job, you should try to conserve a little energy when home - relax for an hour or so, then get up and do some light housework. I took my daughter for walks and ran around after her when I was pregant with my son and had a pretty easy going pregnancy all the way through to the end. I did have a planned c-section which is a completely different story, but I felt like I got a good balance of exercise and taking care of myself, by daughter and my baby to be withought going to the gym. Congrats!!!! It won't be too much longer! :)

It really does sound like you get plenty of exercise at work. When I was your age (just a teeny bit younger) and pregnant I worked at a nursing home. I wasn't allowed to lift anything so I worked light duty on the assisted living unit, and anytime I wasn't busy with a resident I would literally just do laps walking around the building until someone paged me.

I attribute that to having such an easy labor, all of an hour and forty five minutes. And I didn't do anything outside of that as far as additional exercises go. Its different for everyone, and I did still gain 50 lbs, but I also lost it easily afterwards. I think you'll be fine!

Do you enjoy yoga? I know of 2 prenatal yoga classes if you are interested. They are great because they don't take a lot of energy, but you do get some excersize and a calm way to wind down and get some "you time". PM me for more info.