Care During Pregnancy

Running during pregnancy is an effective and quick way to exercise your body and heart, thus giving your body a physical and mental boost anytime you are tired. Additionally, just like walking, running can easily fit into your schedule.

Is running during pregnancy safe?
Whether running during pregnancy is safe or not depends on if you used to run regularly before you got pregnant. It is fine to continue running so long as some precautions are taken and check first with your midwife and doctor. Pregnancy is not the right time to begin training for triathlon, marathon or other races. The baby starts forming major organs during the initial trimester and overheating is a real problem. If the core temperature of a pregnant woman becomes too high, this could easily cause issues with the unborn baby, why should anyone risk it? You can train for labor marathon instead by strengthening the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.

Tips for First Trimester
Follow the normal precautions like drinking a lot of water after and during your run. The blood flow to your uterus can be decreased by dehydration and this may even cause severe problems such as premature contractions. Put on shoes that offer a lot of support especially to the area arches and ankles. Support your growing breasts well by buying a sports bra.

Tips for Second Trimester
During this period your balance shifts as the abdomen grows and this leaves you vulnerable to falls and slips. To be on the safe side, stick to using flat pavements when running during pregnancy. According to Tupler, incase you lose balance; try as much as you can to fall appropriately. Falling appropriately in this case means falling either on your behinds or your side. Moreover, you can also put out your hand to break the fall before the abdomen reaches the ground.

As the pregnancy stages and progresses, consider using a truck when running. The surface of the truck should be gentle for your joints. However, make sure the truck is in a safe place, somewhere you will not get stranded especially if an emergency arises.

Tips for Third Trimester
Just like the first and second trimester, you have to be careful and keep in mind that in case you feel tired, listen to the body and try to get some rest. It is unhealthy to be sedentary, but it is harmful; as well to push your body too hard. Many passionate runners discover that their pace of jogging slows down especially during this trimester. Therefore, a fast walk could be the best choice for you as you approach your delivering date

Warning signs to Stop Running Exercises
Make sure that you do not run to a point of breathlessness and exhaustion. When you push yourself too hard, your body is forced to use the oxygen that is supposed to go to the baby. In case you experience the following signs while running during pregnancy, stop jogging and running immediately and then call your midwife or doctor:

• Decreasing fetal movements
• Premature contractions or labor
• Leaking fluid from the vagina
• Headache
• Calf swelling or pain
• Muscle weakness
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Dizziness
• Pain in the chest
• Difficulty in breathing, particularly when resting