| Walking is a great low impact exercise. Although | | | | ice covered ground. If it's hot or humid you may |
| pregnant women may need to stop some of | | | | overheat quickly as you now have the body heat |
| their other exercise activities, many walk right up | | | | of two. |
| to their delivery day. | | | | If it's uncomfortable or treacherous walking |
| If you are a runner, you might consider slowly | | | | outside, you may consider walking inside, for |
| switching to walking as your pregnancy advances | | | | example at a mall or on a treadmill. Be aware that |
| as running is particularly hard on the back and | | | | treadmills require more balance than walking on |
| knees for pregnant women. Run-walk routines are | | | | the ground so you may want to use the handrails, |
| pretty popular, where you alternate running with | | | | not with a death grip but with a moderately firm |
| walking. | | | | stabilizing grip. |
| It is harder to walk when you're pregnant as | | | | You may also want new shoes to walk in. Not |
| you've quickly gained some weight and your | | | | only may you want more shock absorbent shoes, |
| center of balance has changed. Make sure you | | | | or perhaps a new pair instead of your worn pair, |
| walk in a natural position, standing tall and with | | | | but your foot size may increase from swelling. |
| your shoulders back, not hunched over as that | | | | Walking is an activity many women can continue |
| increases the likelihood of back pain. Since your | | | | throughout pregnancy. Although other exercises |
| center of balance is different, you probably want | | | | may need to be modified or temporarily |
| to avoid rough and uneven terrain, perhaps steep | | | | discontinued, you can feel good about walking, |
| hills, and certainly slippery conditions like snow or | | | | with your doctors permission of course! |