If you find being pregnant sore and uncomfortable, try some pregnancy-safe stretches. Stretching can help relieve aches and pains and melt away any stress or tension as well.

Benefits

Pregnant or not, stretching has its benefits. Stretching lengthens your muscles and loosens your entire body, making you feel better and more comfortable. When you are pregnant, your weight becomes redistributed, and your posture shifts, causing tightness in your muscles, especially your lower back. Even your range of motion is affected. That is why stretching can not only alleviate pain and pressure but improve your range of motion.

Safety

As always, consult your doctor before starting any new exercise regimen during your pregnancy. Stretch with care and keep these tips in mind:

• Make sure you warm-up. Stretching tight muscles can cause injury. Begin with a brisk walk or some knee raises.
• Don’t overstretch. Relaxin is not just what you do when you take a break. It is a hormone that loosens ligaments and prepares your body for labor and delivery. Since all your ligaments are affected by relaxin, it is possible to overdo it and injure yourself. Just be sure to listen to your body and do what feels good. Stretching should not be painful.
• Hold those stretches! Don’t bounce while you stretch. You can pull a muscle this way. Hold your stretches for 20-30 seconds and hold in a comfortable position. You should never feel pain.

Check out this slide show from the Mayo Clinic to learn how to stretch when pregnant safely.

Exercise

Exercise can do wonders for a pregnant body. It can boost your mood, improve sleep, and reduce stress along with aches and pains. Also, it will help you get back into pre-pregnancy shape. Research has shown that prenatal exercise can lower the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. To avoid injury, take it easy and stretch before and after your workout.

Are you interested in learning more about surrogacy? Why not take the next step and open a dialogue with Shared Conception? Give us a call today. We want you to be informed, fulfilled, and satisfied, knowing you contributed to the world in a unique and precious way.

Also, you can visit www.deliveradream.com to begin an application to become a gestational surrogate and find out more information!