The last thing you want to think about during pregnancy…no, not that.

Exercise. Yep, exercise. You’re spending all of your energy on growing a human inside of you, the last thing you want to think about is peeling yourself off the sofa at night or rolling out of the bed extra early. But exercising during a normal low-risk pregnancy can benefit you more than you think.

The key is exercising safely and responsibly. On askdrsears.com, they state “the key to safe exercise while pregnant is to work your body without stressing it or your baby’s. A general guide is—if it’s too strenuous for you, it’s too strenuous for baby.” Dr. Sears’ website also offers some other basic guidelines on exercising while pregnant. As always, consult your doctor or midwife before doing any physical activity during your pregnancy (or before your 6 week postpartum check-up).

Usually, whatever activities you have been participating in before pregnancy are usually safe to continue through most of your pregnancy. For example, runners can usually continue to run while pregnant (within limits and with care provider permission, of course).

For those that have been mostly inactive before pregnancy, starting off slow can really help to ease the transition. Moderate walking or a prenatal yoga or dance class could be beneficial and could help ease some of the discomforts of pregnancy. It can also be helpful in conditioning core and leg muscles and increasing stamina for labor.

As with anything in pregnancy or the postpartum period, when starting an exercise regimen, always consult with your provider and listen to your body. Being healthy during pregnancy can not only help your body through that long nine months but it can also aid in your labor and recovery. It’s also proven that exercise helps to boost your mood and energy levels as well.

So, get out there and find your groove and do what feels best to you and your body!