Publication
Active living: keeping active during and after pregnancy
| Contents: | What types of physical activity? Getting started Pelvic floor exercises Being safe After your baby is here Action stations: ideas to try Moving on: ideas, inspiration and information Keeping active during pregnancy |
Action stations: ideas to try
walking back to happiness
Brisk walking is best — walk as if you are late for an appointment. You need to:
- feel slightly warmer
- breathe a little faster
- feel your heart beating a little faster.
A short and gentle stroll is pleasant, but you need to aim for more, in order to have an impact on your health. Build up your walking, and try to become more active each day.
'I stopped work at six months, and now my partner uses the car for his work ... I've had to start walking everywhere. I’ve even been checking out places I can go to when my baby's here and we can get out together!'
Tracy, 23.
Hint: explore local walks in your area — there could be a number you don't know about. Check out Paths to Health for local walking projects in your area (http://www.pathsforall.org.uk; tel 01259 218855).
in the swim
Ask at your local pool for baby and child swimming classes. They'll be able to answer questions about what your baby needs to wear and about times when the pool is quieter. Contrary to popular belief, you can take your baby swimming at any time, both before and after they have their immunisations.
Most swimming pools have adult classes if you need to learn or to improve your swimming. Your local pool may run aquanatal classes especially for pregnant women — the water bears your weight, so even when you are heavier towards the end of pregnancy, swimming can be relaxing as well as a great way to maintain your activity levels. The class should be run by a midwife trained in aquanatal practice or an obstetric physiotherapist with a midwife alongside. For information, visit http://www.aquanatal.co.uk/Scotland.htm and http://www.scottishswimming.com.
'I've found the class a good way to meet other new mothers.
I know we’ll meet up after the babies are born.'
Susie, 25.