If you are approaching the end of your pregnancy, there is one exercise I encourage you to prioritize every day: walking. Walking even 10 minutes a day has several great benefits for both you and baby.
Benefits for Mama
Walking every day is great for your overall cardiovascular health and help you maintain a healthy weight. If you are able to take a walk outside, the exposure to sunlight is an added bonus! Walking will introduce movement into your lower back and pelvic floor muscles which can alleviate any pain you’re experiencing from carrying around extra weight. This will help strengthen those muscles in preparation for labor and delivery.
Benefits for Baby
Walking not only supports your overall cardiovascular health. This exercise has been known to supports baby’s heart health and can help maintain a healthy weight for baby also. Walking encourages baby to get into a lower, optimal pelvic position in preparation for birth. This can in turn lower the need for possible interventions as you approach your due date.
As you can see, walking is a low-impact, low-risk way to prepare both your body and mind for labor. There are so many more benefits we did not cover! As always, consult with your doctor to discuss if this exercise is right for you based on your own pregnancy journey. Pregnant mamas: How are you getting in your steps in this pregnancy?