Pregnancy is no time to be a couch potato or to slack off on healthy habits. You can keep fit while pregnant by following these simple examples.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage pregnant women to not view pregnancy as an excuse to not exercise. Exercise is good for your body as it prepares to give birth.

Exercise is your key to being able to sleep better, improve your balance, experience fewer backaches or headaches, and quite possibly have less gas and swollen ankles. Exercise can help you to have a more positive body image during your pregnancy and can also increase the chance for an easier labor. Exercising can help you to keep your weight gain within a normal range and allow you to eat more than a pregnant woman might expect she should be able to while pregnant.

Every pregnant woman needs to check with her obstetrician before starting any exercise program to be sure that there are no medical concerns that need to be addressed before starting the program.

An exercise program will not only help you to stay in top physical form but it can help you emotionally and mentally as well.

There are many benefits for the mom-to-be while exercising during her pregnancy. Exercise helps to prepare her for childbirth by strengthening her muscles and by increasing her energy. Exercise also makes it easier for her to get back into shape after the baby is born.

Exercising during pregnancy should only be done with a doctor's knowledge and approval. There are many reasons why a doctor may limit the amount of exercise, or the type of exercise that is done based on the presence of the following medical conditions:

• If the mom-to-be develops pre-term rupture of membranes
• Has pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Experiences pre-term labor. Premature or pre-term labor is the early onset of uterine contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy and after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• If persistent bleeding is present during the 2nd or 3rd trimester
• Poor fetal growth
• Multiple fetal pregnancy
• Incompetent cervix

There have not been any studies that prove that exercise has any adverse effects on a normal, healthy pregnant woman.

There are no studies that show any benefit to the baby from the mom-to-be exercising.

Exercising during pregnancy can help the mom to feel better about herself and her body and may also help her to maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight will benefit the baby.

A pregnancy hormone, relaxin found in the mom's body is released and loosens the joints in preparation for delivery. Knee joints are more prone to injury because of this hormone because it relaxes ligaments and tendons. The best way to deal with this hormone is to exercise in moderation, listen to your body and not overexert yourself during exercises.

It is important to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercising especially in warm weather months. Dehydration in late pregnancy is related to premature labor. Exercising can lead to dehydration as the body releases moisture through sweat.