 Royal College of Midwives addresses benefits of prenatal exercise
Source: Bounty.com Date: 01/18/08
The
physical and mental benefits of exercising during pregnancy may help
prevent postnatal depression, according to the Royal College of
Midwives (RCM).
Keeping active throughout pregnancy and taking
part in regular exercise such
as swimming and walking has significant
advantages for both women's physical and mental wellbeing.
According
to Mervi Jokinen, a midwife at the RCM, prenatal exercise can help
prevent some of the swelling that most mums-to-be experience in
pregnancy.
And maintaining fitness in the early stages of
pregnancy can alleviate the natural fatigue commonly felt by women
during their first trimester.
Getting into a regular exercise
routine four to six weeks after the birth can also help motivate new
mums by helping to prevent the onset of postnatal depression, claimed
Ms Jokinen.
"As midwives, we would advise you to exercise and,
if you're not doing anything, to actually take up swimming, which is
good relaxation and is very easy," she advised.
Commenting on
the benefits of cardiovascular exercises, she added: "You increase the
oxygen flow into your own system and at the same time you will
definitely increase it to the baby, so it's very good for the baby
because a baby needs oxygen for growth and development."
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