Dan RADU 3 JUNE 2010 19:00/ GANDUL NEWS
Avoiding movement and eating for two are two mistakes that many women make when they become pregnant. What Exercises are Recommended for Pregnant Women Avoiding movement and eating for two are two mistakes that many women make when they become pregnant. This combination is dangerous for both the mother, who will gain more weight than neces
sary, and the child, who is put at risk by this unhealthy lifestyle. In the case of a normal pregnancy, exercise is actually recommended and advised by doctors. Dumitru Burtescu is a fitness trainer who specializes in working with pregnant women. He says that exercising during pregnancy can help the expectant mother give birth more easily and regain her shape without major efforts after childbirth. "I've always believed that pregnant women need support and should learn to take better care of themselves. Exercising during pregnancy is highly recommended, as long as it's done correctly. Here, pregnant women are somewhat afraid of exercising; I don't know why. But there are also women who know the secrets of exercise and come eagerly," says Dumitru Burtescu. "Stopping exercise when you become pregnant can be dangerous. If you, as a person, have an active lifestyle, engage in physical activity, do fitness – many people do fitness nowadays – but if you completely stop exercising when you become pregnant, you're actually harming your pregnancy. Plus, extra pounds pile on. Most women think that once they're pregnant, they're eating for two, which is false," adds Dumitru Burtescu. Short Exercises, No Jumping Physical exercises can continue during pregnancy, but obviously not at the same intensity. "The exercises differ from regular fitness. Here, no jumping is involved. You can't expect a pregnant woman to jump when she's six months pregnant. The movements are done mostly while lying down. Then we work a lot on teaching them to breathe correctly, which is very important. As much as possible, we teach them not to touch their bellies, as this isn't particularly good for the baby," explains the trainer. The type of exercises also varies depending on how advanced the pregnancy is. "Until the fourth month, we only do breathing exercises and a few short exercises. The interval doesn't exceed 15 minutes because it's not recommended to go beyond this limit. From the second trimester, we introduce special pilates movements for pregnant women, and the session can last up to 50 minutes," explains the trainer. The exercises are performed either on a mat or with the help of a fitness ball. They involve undulatory movements of the pelvis or successive bends. "We monitor their heart rate every two minutes to ensure they don't get too tired," says the trainer, adding that physical exercises, as well as breathing exercises, help women give birth with less effort. "The majority of women don't know how to breathe properly. They exert a lot of force during childbirth, which can lead to broken capillaries, requiring much more effort that they could otherwise avoid," says Burtescu. The trainer continues to work with these women after childbirth. "If the mother had a natural birth, she can return to the training room after a month and a half. If it's a cesarean birth, then recovery will start after six months." The postpartum program aims to shed the extra kilograms. However, Burtescu says that if a woman exercises during pregnancy, weight won't be a problem. "Once you engage in fitness during pregnancy, you won't gain weight. You also have someone who helps you and explains that excessive eating is very unhealthy."
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