Here at NordicTrackCoupons.com we are concerned for your safety once your at home treadmill is purchased. Keeping fit during pregnancy has many benefits, as long as you are paying attention to your body and how you feel. We have guest author Olivia over at Trying-To-Conceive who is an expert when it comes to this topic! Here is what she suggests on the matter:
Exercising on a treadmill during pregnancy
Prenatal exercise is without a doubt one of the keys to a healthy pregnancy, but it’s also the cause of a lot of worries for many expectant moms. Running during pregnancy is particularly controversial — but why? Is a treadmill any better, and how do you keep safe if you do decide to exercise on a treadmill while you are pregnant?
Concerns about running during pregnancy
If you’re concerned about tripping over and really hurting yourself and your baby while you are running, you’re not alone. You’re right to be worried, too. It’s not just that falling during pregnancy is more dangerous because you now have someone else to worry about — your center of gravity shifts as your uterus grows, which actually makes accidents more likely. Staying away from rough terrain eliminates some of the risk while you exercise during pregnancy. Using a treadmill gives you lots of control over your speed and your environment, which adds to safety. Also make sure to use good-quality running shoes to support your ankles and prevent injury.
Getting too hot is another thing doctors are worried about when it comes to running while you have a baby on board. The consequences of overheating during pregnancy aren’t quite clear for humans. But animal studies suggest that overheating during the early stages of pregnancy may cause birth defects, specifically neural tube defects like spina bifida. This is why medical professionals often advise women to stay away from saunas and hot baths during the first trimester, and sometimes running. As long as you don’t overdo it, and stop when you feel hot, you should be fine.
Why use a treadmill?
While exercising outside boosts your vitamin D levels, exercising on a treadmill at home or in the gym offers a huge amount of flexibility. If you have a treadmill at home, you can exercise without other people bothering you. Once you give birth, you can easily use a treadmill while your baby sleeps next to you in a bassinet. Taking breaks regularly, or even changing speeds, is easy on a treadmill. That will prevent overheating as well as concerns over your heart rate being too accelerated. During the third trimester, when pregnancy signs like frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, and heartburn are common, you can just take a brisk walk on the treadmill rather than running. The message is clear — a treadmill offers a huge amount of flexibility, and allows you to work out just how you want to and need to.
Olivia blogs about fertility, pregnancy and beyond at Trying To Conceive.
