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Tips for fitness
Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and helps maintain muscle tone. As long as you choose exercises that are low-impact and you keep one foot on the ground at all times to minimize stress on your joints, you should be able to continue your routine throughout most of your pregnancy.
Although exercise DVDs you can do at home are good when you're pressed for time (or just too tired to make it to the gym), consider joining an aerobics class designed especially for expectant moms. You'll enjoy the company of other pregnant women and the expertise of an instructor who understands how to keep you and your baby safe. If you're already joining a regular aerobics class, let your instructor know that you're pregnant; he or she can suggest ways to modify movements that may be unsafe for you.
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Fist-trimester tips
Dress in comfortable and breathable clothing. If you're not comfortable carrying on a conversation, stop; that's a sign you're exercising too intensely.
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Second-trimester tips
Keep a bottle of water close by during class; dehydration can cause muscle cramps and in extreme cases even premature contractions. Drink one cup before you exercise; one cup for every 15 minutes of exercise; and one or two cups after you finish your workout.
Remember that it may be harder to keep your balance as your tummy expands. Use caution as you move across the floor. Prenatal water aerobics is a great and safe option for you too. It is still a workout for your heart and body, but without the stress on your joints or the risk of injury.
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Third-trimester tips
By now your pregnant belly is probably hampering some of your movements. If it feels too tricky or uncomfortable to bend or reach, just march in place. It'll keep your heart rate up while you take things a little easier. It's also best to avoid bending over, spinning, or any turning movements that may make you dizzy and cause you to lose your balance.
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