Exercise

Exercise helps you to stay healthy while you are pregnant.

Talk to your provider about how to exercise while you are pregnant.

Exercise can help you:

• Have stronger muscles for birth.
• Have more energy.
• Be in a better mood.
• Lower your stress.
• Prevent too much weight gain.
• Ease leg cramps and backaches.
• Help with constipation.

Even a few minutes of stretching each day can make you feel better and stronger. Try things like swimming, housecleaning, yard work, or a combination of these activities.

Try to exercise for 30 minutes every day. Drink plenty of water before and after you exercise.

Stop exercising if you feel:

• Pain.
• Dizziness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Uterine cramps like when you get your period.
• Contractions (your stomach gets tight and hard).

Dancing
You can dance anywhere!

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Yoga
You can take a yoga class or practice with a yoga video.

[Yoga image]

Walking
Walk for 30 minutes a day. You can walk to the park, to the store, or to the bus stop.