Move as you feel...

There are no hard and fast rules about movement in the first trimester. This time is so different for every woman. What is clear however, is that rest is your priority.

All medical literature will tell you that it is completely safe to continue exercising as you have before you got pregnant. I completely agree. Jiggle, jump and bounce exactly as you always have, your baby will be safe. However, this is the time to check in with how you really feel. 

Typically women feel exhausted in this stage of pregnancy. And often, we exercise thinking it will give us more energy. Typically true. But this is a time to conserve rather than spend. A huge amount of energy is being directed toward growing that baby. And as a result, we often need to save our energy so we can just function within our normal lives.  

So, the right amount of exercise is intensely individual. Some women will find it easy to train six days a week while others will struggle to get out of bed. Feel into what your body wants. Feel into whether your current exercise regime is appropriate as your body changes to accommodate a developing foetus. Move as you feel. 

Whether that’s walking, weights or yoga, now is more important than ever to be exercising in a way you love. Just be sure to use your own intuition when following particular directions during a class. Many yoga teachers or exercise instructors have no experience with pregnancy, and are unlikely to be aware of the subtle impacts of movements on a pregnant body. If something doesn’t feel right, be sure to listen, adjust and stop if you need to.

At Nourished Mama, we are going to educate you throughout this pregnancy and work with you to change the way you exercise. We encourage moving away from extreme cardiovascular fitness to an approach that focuses on functional movement, agility and alignment.  

We teach movement that helps to open and stabilise your pelvis. Movement that keeps the energy channels in your body flowing. Movement that builds your stamina as you prepare for the birth. And finally, we teach movement that will prepare you mentally and emotionally for all the changes to come.