Pregnancy Fitness: Your Ultimate Resource Guide

Updated December 3, 2019 / Published February 1, 2017

If you are trying to stay in shape and have optimal pregnancy fitness, this post will help give you the gear and resources you’ll need.

I remember during my first pregnancy… I walked every single day for one hour.

ONE HOUR.

I had moved to a new country and wasn’t able to work so I walked. And walked. And walked.

And you know what?

I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans 10 days after giving birth.

I am being serious with you.

I would love to say I replicated that with my other 4 pregnancies, but alas. It took a bit more work. You want to know why? Because I was not as focused on pregnancy fitness in the other 4 as I was in my first.

It’s that simple.

Resource Guide for Pregnancy Fitness

If you want to stay fit during pregnancy the best thing you can do for yourself is to get set up for success. It means having clothes that fit, choosing safe workouts or exercise outlets, and know what type of gear will be most beneficial for you during this time.

Trust me, if you put in a lot of work during pregnancy to stay fit you will be smiling as the pounds drop off you postpartum.

Read: Why I Don’t Weigh Myself During Pregnancy

Pregnancy Fitness Videos

If you have other kids at home or are more home centered you may not be able to get out much to exercise. Going to the gym is great, but it isn’t necessary in your fitness journey.

You can also work out a lot at home both during and after pregnancy. Here are some bestselling videos that are tried and true successes.

Fit and Trim Workout | This workout comes very highly rated and has 3 separate 20 minutes portions. This means you don’t have to do anything to exhaustive, and also have options to prevent boredom.

Barre Skinny | Barre Skinny is a popular barre workout. Barre workouts are amazing, easy on the body but so so toning. I have done a few barre workouts in my time and I really enjoy them.

Prenatal Physique | This workout has 15 minute segments which are helpful on the days you just feel very over it.

Prenatal Yoga | If you are not a super exerciser, but want something that keeps you nimble and ready to give birth, this is it.

Pregnancy Fitness Gear

If you want to work out at home or on the go, some good gear is always key. Whether you are going to have a natural birth or not, a birthing ball promotes flexibility and helps you get your body used to proper birthing positions.

You can use a water bottle that tracks your necessary water intake, and have a nice mat you can use whether you’re inside or even outside in your yard getting exercise with Vitamin D.

Foam Roller | This is an excellent thing to use to help work out the muscle kinks. You can use it on your hips, legs, back, arms, and anywhere you feel stiffness or soreness. You’ll wonder how you survived life without one.

Exercise Mat | If you are working out at home, going to group classes, or even doing some stretch work outside in your yard you could probably use a mat. A towel will also do, but a mat will be a tad more sturdy.

Water Bottle | This water bottle also helps you track the amount of water you should be consuming per day.

Birthing Ball | By getting a sturdy ball you can practice flexibility, birthing positions, and all the other exercises that you are safely able to do.

Pregnancy Fitness Apparel

I’m going to say it’s hard to feel cute while pregnant. Now that doesn’t mean you don’t look cute to your friends or significant other. But it is hard to feel cute. You really feel like a whale.

But when you are gearing up to work out, it helps to be wearing clothes that fit well.

Maternity Workout Pants | You need good pants to be able to workout well for the long run. Ones that are neither too lose to be comfy or too tight to cut off your circulation. Find highly rated pregnancy workout pants here.

Workout shirts | You can now get tank tops, snug tops, loose tops, and even hoodies to help you look cute while you workout. You can get highly rated by fellow preggos here and scour the reviews for your fave.

Maternity bras | You will want a good sturdy bra both during pregnancy and after. In fact, you’ll want quite a few. You are not supposed to wear underwire throughout pregnancy so this type of comfy bra will really do the job.

I hope this post helps you to get excited and prepared to meet your fitness needs during this precious time. Here are some other pregnancy related posts to help you through.

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Pregnancy Newborn Sleep Routines

Rachel

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I'm Rachel, mother of 5 young kids living in the Florida panhandle with my Australian husband. I write about family culture, family rhythms and routines, and boundaries in motherhood and life. You can see snippets of my daily life here and visit my shop for baby sleep, organizing, and routine help.

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