Pregnancy Fitness covers all physical and physiological aspects of pregnancy, birth, and recovery. Practical and accessible, it delivers stretching, strengthening, and functional exercises as well as sample workout programs to take you safely and confidently through each phase of pregnancy and postpartum fitness.
Are you intrigued by the idea of working out during pregnancy, but think it can’t be safe? Are you unsure how the words fit and pregnancy actually make sense in the same sentence? If so, you’ve come to the right place. This easy-to-follow guide shows you how you can be fit and pregnant, whether you’re new to exercise or have been working out for years, and whether you’re in your second week of pregnancy or your 32nd. Fit Pregnancy For Dummies is for you if you’re pregnant, if you’re thinking about becoming pregnant, and You want to be as fit and healthy as you can be — whatever your current fitness level — without in any way jeopardizing your health or the health of your baby. This guide gives you the straight facts on: Staying safe when you exercise Developing a plan with your health provider Choosing the right equipment Modifying your routine for each trimester Eating well for nine months and beyond From yoga and swimming to weight training, aerobics, and much more, you’ll see how to get started with a fun, step-by-step fitness routine that will make your entire pregnancy easier to manage. Postpartum expert and prenatal fitness class instructor Catherine Cram and fitness expert Tere Stouffer Drenth give you the scoop on the activities that work best for pregnant women and how to set up a routine that works best for you. You’ll understand how a fit pregnancy helps you with delivery and postpartum shape-up. Plus, you get expert advice on activities to avoid, eating well, and staying motivated during and after your pregnancy, as well as: Dressing comfortably for your workout Warming up and stretching to increase flexibility and avoid injury Modifying your exercise routine Staying fit after giving birth Finding the time for exercise and motherhood Complete with special tips on exercising indoors, staying motivated, getting your family hooked on fitness, and helping your child grow up healthy and fit, Fit Pregnancy For Dummies is the key to exercising safely and staying fit throughout your pregnancy and beyond!
Pilates for Pregnancy offers over 60 gentle exercises divided into two main sections: Early Pregnancy (0 to 16 weeks) and Later Pregnancy (16 weeks to birth). In addition, Lynne offers exercises for pre- and post-pregnancy. The book covers all the current health guidelines: for instance, did you know that exercising supine during pregnancy increases your chances of developing supine hypotensive syndrome? The book is especially unique for its inclusion of a Q&A with a midwife on preparing for labour and the birth itself, a series of postnatal exercises that you can do with your baby, plus a groundbreaking new exercise programme for correcting diastasis recti (abdominal separation that occurs shortly after childbirth). With Pilates for Pregnancy you will be well on your way to attaining an enjoyable and enriching pregnancy.
Two leaders in pregnancy yoga share useful yoga techniques to guide expectant mothers from bump to birth and beyond Authoritative yet thoroughly accessible, this user-friendly book provides yoga techniques for pregnancy and beyond, helping expectant mothers to deal with all the physical and emotional changes you experience along the way. Authors Tara Lee and Mary Attwood—both leaders in the field—explain the important fundamentals of pregnancy yoga, such as: • Using breathwork to relax your body and reduce stress • Guided meditations and visualizations to help you feel calm and positive • Illustrated step-by-step routines to energize you and relieve muscle tension and pain • Beneficial postures for a range of common pregnancy-related conditions, including back pain, breathlessness, and swollen ankles • Advice on preparing for labor and childbirth • Post-natal exercises to get you back in shape and energized as a new mother Most importantly, Tara and Mary emphasize how every woman can take charge of her whole self to ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth. The foreword by internationally celebrated Dr Gowri Motha, creator of the Gentle Birth Method, reinforces the message that pregnancy and childbirth is a positive experience to cherish and enjoy.
If you're concerned about the best way to keep your body and baby healthy during pregnancy -- or how you'll ever lose the excess weight afterward -- you're not alone. Fitness expert Tracey Mallett faced those same challenges when she gained 55 pounds that didn’t melt right off after her daughter's birth. But gone were the days where she had endless hours and energy to exercise. So she created workouts that take only a few minutes a day -- after all, busy moms are short on time! Super Fit Mama shares Tracey’s secrets for safely getting in shape and back to your pre-baby weight. Her medically-sound program features a blend of strength training, Pilates, yoga, and cardio. Inside you'll find: Expert advice on staying fit and eating right during each pregnancy trimester Fun, fast, and safe exercises for the first weeks and months postpartum Easy-to-follow meal plans and delicious recipes Tips for strengthening your pelvic floor, easing back pain, and losing belly fat Stay inspired along the way with Team Mallett, real moms who have successfully used Tracey's plan. Whether you start the program during pregnancy or after baby, Super Fit Mama will help you get your confidence back -- along with a body that’s even better than before!
This 2019 edition of Beyond the Blues contains the most current pregnancy and postpartum resources for prevention and treatment of mental health challenges for all parents. Updated information and research about medications, as well as complementary and alternative options are included. Direct and compassionate, it is required reading for those suffering before or after the baby is born and for all professionals working with them. “An indispensable guide to understanding and treating prenatal and postpartum depression. This book is a gift not only to healthcare providers but also to family and friends of mothers suffering from these devastating perinatal mood disorders.” —Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Nursing Coauthor of Postpartum Depression Screening Scale “In Beyond the Blues, Bennett and Indman offer a compact yet surprisingly comprehensive manual on prenatal and postpartum depression. Readable and practical, they systematically address screening and assessment, finding a therapist, myths about nursing and bonding, and treatment. Interesting and helpful are suggestions for family and friends. For health professionals, there is detailed diagnostic and treatment information. Beyond the Blues is a quick read with an easy-to-handle format. Recommended for consumer health and health sciences collections.” —Library Journal “This book will be of great help for both women and their health care providers, providing information on all aspects of depression in pregnancy and in the post-postpartum, including safety/risk of medication therapy.” —Adrienne Einarson RN Assistant Director, The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada “Take prenatal vitamins for the baby, but for the long-term health of the mother, this is a must read for both her and her doctor.” —Timothy A. Leach, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. OB/GYN, San Ramon Regional Medical Center, John Muir Medical Center
Personal trainer, founder of Bumps & Burpees, and new mum Charlie Barker provides you with 36 workouts designed specifically for you to do safely during your pregnancy. Learn how to keep your baby safe when working out and what physical changes you can expect in each trimester. Step-by-step exercises designed to develop your strength, fitness, and flexibility, will help you to carry your growing baby in greater comfort, prepare you for childbirth, and recover well. Best of all, you can do it all at home, with minimal or no equipment. Charlie's holistic approach helps you prioritize your own health and wellbeing throughout pregnancy and early motherhood, for the benefit of you and your baby.
The Go-To Guide to Keep You Active and Healthy During Your Pregnancy and Beyond Whether you're a professional athlete or a dedicated weekend warrior, you're serious about your sport and your commitment to fitness. But now that you're pregnant, you may be getting conflicting health and exercise advice from your family, friends, and doctors. With all the concerns and misinformation, it's hard to know where to turn for accurate, supportive guidance so you can have a safe, healthy pregnancy and maintain a high level of fitness. Now, in The Pregnant Athlete, triathlete/trainer mom Brandi Dion, fitness professional Steven Dion, and OB/GYN Joel Heller have teamed up to offer: Practical information on how your body changes each month, and how to gauge your own limits Flexible workout plans for strength, cardiovascular conditioning, agility, and balance for each stage of pregnancy and the postpartum period Facts and tips about eating well to support pregnancy and fuel your workouts The truth about old wives' tales and common pregnancy myths and misconceptions With expert advice and medical insights from an OB/GYN, useful information for the pregnant athlete's partner, and inspiring stories from other athletic moms-to-be, The Pregnant Athlete will help you stay happy, healthy, and in top form during your pregnancy and beyond.
Many older women spend months, if not years, trying for motherhood, then endure an anxious pregnancy wondering if they are eating and exercising properly. Fitness expert Suzy Clarkson has been there. Her first pregnancy at the age of 38 was relatively trouble-free, but trying to get pregnant again a few years later was very different. Following fertility treatment, she finally gave birth to her second child at the age of 45. Qualified in physiotherapy, Suzy has now devised a practical guide to assist older women through their pregnancies, using her own experiences of motherhood to support her text. This easy-to-follow fitness program will take you through each trimester, showing suitable exercises and suggesting how to develop healthy habits to achieve a safe outcome, a successful childbirth and a speedy recovery afterwards. The book is fully illustrated with step-by-step photographs showing the exercises in detail. The information she provides is based on the latest research, and is endorsed by leading specialists in obstetrics and fertility. But the book is more than its exercises. Suzy is a 'real mum' who offers encouragement and a compassionate helping hand to all older mothers. Fit for Birth and Beyond is the guide you can trust and use with confidence.