Any Suggestions for Prenatal Exercises?

I agree with Staci - I did Baby Boot Camp all through my second pregnancy and was in such better shape afterward than I was with my first. I also did prenatal yoga 1-2 times per week which I think helped my delivery go more smoothly :)
Good luck!

I highly recommend prenatal yoga. If you live in the Walnut Creek area, I LOVE the Sat. 10am class with Melanie...she is so great. You get to actually work out and relax...beautiful balance in her class. She also focuses on exercises to support strength in prep for labor and delivery.

Congratulations!!!

L. Vachani
Holistic Nutrition Consultant
hfwellness.com

wow! Beautiful and much luck and love to you for taking such a path!
Kegels and leg lifts!
I think if you have young children you can get a lot of exercise just walking, running, lifting, carrying and playing. Chair pose in yoga is a good one to engage the abdomen. Belly dancing maybe?
Enjoy the journey!
PS Did you ever get the book Birthing From Within? I loved it.

Congratulations!

Like some of the other moms said, prenatal yoga is great. Not only is it fun to hang out with the other moms-to-be, but it is great exercise and helps with labor too (or at least, it helped me). My OB suggested that I take prenatal yoga to help with the stress I was experiencing at work. He also told me that his patients who took yoga had an easier time with delivery. I took yoga during my second pregnancy (but not with my first), and I did find I was much better equipped to deal with labor and delivery from a mental standpoint.

there's a website called BabyFit that will e-mail you a new exercise every day. Elliptcal trainer is great for balance, cardio and keeping your hips and legs toned.
A beginner yoga class is great - I went to mine until 30 weeks when my belly and heartburn got too bad.
Prenatal yoga is great for the 3rd trimester - the breathing techniques got me through induced labor with no pain meds. My gym offers free training sessions ( to get you to sign up for $$$$$$more) so I took advantage and had the trainer show me what I could do that was SAFE.

This is my second pregnancy and I am doing a prenatal yoga DVD. I had never done yoga before but I am really enjoying it! Not only is it a good workout for strengthening and stretching your muscles, but it helps you relax and learn how to focus, which is definitely helpful for labor. Also it's not too strenuous, which I'm sure would be good for you if you're feeling tired. The DVD I got is called "Prenatal Yoga" from bodywisdom media, and I got it on Amazon. It has several routines specific to each trimester that address different pregnancy discomforts, so it's a great value. Congratulations on your growing family!

I Loved prenatal yoga. The only problem was finding time totally alone when you can have zero interuptions. It gets your body working without tireing you out. I also had a great book called Fertility Wisdom. I found I had a ton of energy just by following the dietary reccomendations (mostly "warming" foods).

Get more rest and time away from your three existing children. Hire a mommy's helper now so that the routine is established by the time your fourth arrives. Delegate what you can to anyone willing to help. REMEMBER - the family is only happy when mommy is happy. Take care of YOURSELF and then the rest will fall into space. Since you are older, rest and exercise cautiously. If you don't get enough rest (ie at least 8 hours of sleep, time off of your feet in the after noon, and a walk three times a week), your body will not be able to keep up. Believe me, my second child came at 38 and my doctor kept telling me to rest and I didn't believe him. Well, I should have because now I have read research spelling out how important it is to rest and sleep for your brain and body to function properly. Don't cheat yourself. YOu put out so much energy as a mom and somehow our society downplays how hard we work. Rest, rest, rest.

I loved pre natel yoga. It help with sleep, soreness, mental welbeing,a good sweat and relaxation. I took it at the Day One Center in WC but I am sure there are many other places to go. The class is at night a few times per week and on saturdays. The class fills up fast so you have to get there early. A great time to read. Also Mom's would share their stories in a circle before class. It was nice to be able to ask questions and give advice or just vent. Good luck

Congrats! There are a lot of prenatal yoga programs out there, and water aerobics is another great option. Hope the morning sickness goes away soon!

congrats on your pregnancy! I think it's wonderful that you are already thinking of exercising while pregnancy. I own a Baby Boot Camp franchise and have had many pregnant women in my classes. They have all said their delievery was easier because they worked out. They got back to their pre-baby bodies faster and made a lot of great friends along the way. There are many franchise in California and your first class is always FREE so you have nothing to lose by trying one. You can find locations along with more info at www.babybootcamp.com.

Good luck!

J.

I love aqua aerobics. You can do it all the way until you deliver, it takes the weight off your back and belly, and it helps you feel great.

Have you thought about prenatal yoga? It would help with the delivery and might help with your energy level. Yoga sometimes gets me charged up! Another thing you might want to try (but check with your doctor first!!!) is belly dancing. Belly dance is great for the core muscles and would help with your hips and back. All the belly dancers I know have had great deliveries when they had their kids. It made it easier for them. It also does wonders for self esteem. But check with your doctor first! I hope this helps!!

Have you tried yoga? Some places offer special prenatal classes.

I really enjoyed a work out DVD by Erin O'Brien that I ordered from Amazon. It was a 2 DVD set that also included a post-natal workout that was great.

I love prenatal yoga. Your ob will tell you walk, walk, walk.
congratulations!

Baby Boot Camp is great!! They have them all over (www.babybootcamp.com) and are really helpful for staying in shape while pregnant and for getting back in shape after the baby. You walk, or jog if you're comfortable, and do strength exercizes. I love it. I also love the support I get from the other women in class!