Natural Pregnancy Tips for Staying Fit and Well

Natural pregnancy product loving mama’s to be will be interested to hear the latest news in a leading publication today.

According to experts, Pregnancy is the most important time to stay fit and healthy, not by trying to loose weight, but rather by eating healthily and staying fit.
Fitness expert Jane Wake says that “Your body will respond to good food and exercise."

Instead of eating for two you only need an extra 300 calories a day. So choose healthy snacks and not sugary foods. Make sure your diet is balanced and avoid food fads. Get plenty of leafy, green veg like broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and spinach, which are packed full of folic acid. Try to eat these with a fat source like a salad dressing or some cheese, as your body will absorb nutrients more effectively. We recommend organic foods as they maintain the nutrients and haven’t got the chemicals. As a rule, the darker the leaf the better it is for you. You can't risk some foods as they can be harmful to your baby - these include uncooked meat, un-pasteurised cheese, eggs and pate. Avoid nuts if your family has nut allergies and discuss how much fish is wise with your GP.

You also need more water - two to three litres a day. Limiting tea and coffee to one or two cups a day, or going for decaffeinated is best.

Take gentle exercise everyday, such as walking, or swimming and do gentle exercise to firm up your pelvic floor muscles.

Jane recommends the following exercises “Think of your pelvic floor muscle as being like a hammock strung between your coccyx and your pubic bone," explains Jane. "Exercise by pulling it up (as though holding in a pee), holding for a second, then releasing. Do 10 sets at least three times a day. Your tummy muscles will contract, strengthening them too."

It’s also important to keep your stomach muscles strong but Never do sit ups, as they will damage your stomach muscles forever. Instead Jane recommends the "sideways lift". Imagine your belly button is in a lift going horizontally back to your spine. There are five floors. Ground floor is letting your tummy relax, pull it up to reach first, then second and on to fifth floor. Relax back down the floors and repeat 10 times. Hold each floor a few seconds - but don't hold your breath!
Strengthen back muscles by "rocking the baby". Stand with feet parallel and arms folded: rotate from side to side as though rocking a baby to sleep. This works muscles and eases tension from spine to buttocks.

If you’re expecting a baby and looking to have as natural a pregnancy as possible then keeping fit and healthy, eating well (preferably organic in our opinion), avoiding toxins and environmental pollutants and using natural pregnancy products is the best advice you can follow for a safe and healthy pregnancy.