If you’re reading this and you’ve just found out that you are pregnant, then congratulations! This is the beginning of a wonderful life changing experience, that you will cherish forever. But amidst the joy of knowing you are going to have a baby there are also concerns over what changes you will have to make to your current lifestyle.

One of the most common concerns for newly pregnant mums to be is always the question of exercise and pregnancy and whether it is safe.

Years ago it was strictly advised that pregnant women should avoid any strenuous activity and rest as much as possible. As a result, many pregnant women piled on the pounds during their pregnancies and then struggled to lose the excess weight afterwards.

Fortunately with the advance in science and research into this area we now know that not only is it safe to exercise during pregnancy, but that it is actually beneficial to both mother and baby.

Just some of those benefits include a better immune system, relief from morning sickness, reduced postural pain and injury and increased energy levels and feelings of positivity for both you and baby.

Even so, when you first find out you are pregnant, your natural instinct is to reduce your activity to protect your baby. Actually, this instinct is not far wrong – you definitely don’t want to be risking your baby by playing a rousing game of squash or rollerblading down some steep hills, but to stop all activity is crazy!

For one you need to be strengthening your body to support your pregnancy. As your body changes it will put some serious strain on areas like your back, shoulders and neck and if your muscles aren’t strong enough to cope with these postural changes, you could be in for severe long term damage.

You can’t build strength overnight so you need to be starting as soon as possible to support your frame.

You should also consider the amount of fat you are carrying on your body. Roughly 30% of oestrogen comes from fat so if you are carrying too much, (or too little), fat then your hormones will be out of balance, which may also have serious indications for the health of your pregnancy and your baby.

So what should you be doing to ensure you stay fit during your pregnancy whilst making sure your baby is safe and healthy?

The key is to focus on short workouts (15 minutes is fine), comprising total body exercises that target key areas like your bottom, core and midback. Things like squats, rows, pelvic floors and transverse abdominal work are ideal for you right now.

You should also be focussing on short bouts of cardio rather than long steady sessions on the treadmill or cross-trainer. Not only is short burst training about 1000 times more effective at conditioning your body, it is also much more suitable for early pregnancy as you won’t find it as draining on your essential resources.

So, is it safe to exercise in early pregnancy?

Well, yes, so long as you exercise smarter not harder. As with anything, there are always risks. If you are newly pregnant I would strongly recommend you contact a prenatal fitness specialist who can advise you on your personal circumstance and help you with a pregnancy fitness plan to suit your personal needs.

Pregnancy hemorrhoids are of the mostly complained issues from pregnant women. With a baby in your body, things are quite different from things at other times when you were normal. Being pregnant can mean that you might become more vulnerable to diseases and health-related problems. All of these can be attributed to hormone.  

Pregnancy hemorrhoids are considered one of the victims of hormone changes because the hormone slows the foods down that are going through the gastrointestinal tract. This slowing down results in constipation which leads to hemorrhoids because you would have to strain at stool. This straining would get the anal veins enlarged, causing hemorrhoids.  

Now that we know one of the causes of pregnancy hemorrhoids, we can take some home treatment for them right away. If you are suffering from them at the time being, it would be helpful to subdue the pain or itching by applying ice packs to the rectum area.  

However, prevention is the most important thing when it comes to hemorrhoids during pregnancy. First things first, don’t sit long in front of the desk. After finishing reading this article, you need to stand up and do some walk or exercise. However, don’t stand too long, either. The reason is that the veins in the anus will suffer pressure too if you stand for a long time.  

To prevent pregnancy hemorrhoids, another most significant thing you need to do every day is drinking enough water or other fluids. Fluids can not only alleviate the dry stool so that constipation can be eliminated, but also accelerate your metabolism, which is good because frequent visits to the bathroom can force you to exercise.

If you are pondering “when will I go into labor?” you are most probably very near to your estimated due date. Especially, if you have passed you EDD and are nearing you 40th pregnancy week, you might not only wonder “when will I go into labor” but be saying “I want to go into labor!”

What the Numbers of Dilation and Effacement Really Tell You?
 
How far you are dilated and effaced will give an idea how near your labor would be. Additionally, hearing how well you are dilated and effaced gives you a sense of progress with your nearing labor. However, if you are NOT dilated, or effaced, rest assured that you will eventually give birth to your baby! Some pregnant women dilate to 4 cm and are 100% effaced for a full month before they go into labor. On the other hand some women, who were not dilated at all, can go into full labor and give birth within hours. Each body is build a little bit differently. Therefore our bodies work a little bit differently in pregnancy, labor and delivery, although the end result is the same – giving birth to a baby.
 
There is no magic hour or day that coincides with dilation and effacement. Some pregnant women dilate quite silently without feeling contractions. Other expectant mothers have Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks before their labor starts. This is why vaginal checks are helpful in determining how much your cervix has dilated and how far you have effaced. However, the internal examination only gives you an idea of what is the situation on the moment of the examination. It won’t tell you exactly when you will be in labor.
 
When You Should Go to the Delivery Hospital?
 
It is quite a common belief that if you are dilated to a certain number, you will automatically be admitted to the hospital – even if they you not having contractions. There are some hospitals that won’t let you leave if you have dilated to at a certain number, on the other hand there are hospitals that will send home although you were dilated up to 5, 6 and even 7 cm but are you are not having contractions. Many hospitals feel quite comfortable sending a woman home who is not contracting at is 4 and even 5 cm dilated. The reason for this is that you can be dilated quite a bit, and still not go into labor very soon.
 
And the Answer to Your Question “When Will I Go Into Labor?” Is …
 
So if you are dilated, and want to know when you will go into labor, there is simply no guessing. If you are NOT dilated, there is no guessing. Neither clearly indicates going early, or going late. Most OB’s, midwives, nurses, doulas and childbirth educators love to help you out with your labor and delivery questions. The truth is that if someone could give a precise answer to your question “when will I go into labor?” they were very wealthy!