A woman gets pregnant, and all of a sudden people have this urge to pamper her. They would tell her to sit down on the bed, or relax on that chair, and that she shouldn't move too much because it would be bad for the baby; one of the common and long-standing misconceptions about pregnancy is the idea that if a woman does any work at all, there will be a chance that a miscarriage will occur. And while this is true in the case of some women who are either too young, too old, or too sickly to handle carrying a child in her womb, this is not the case in general. And it is very sad that up until today, many people find it still appropriate to demand a sedentary lifestyle out of a pregnant woman. Some may find it cute and romantic, how everyone fusses like that. But they will soon find out that being able to do nothing actively for months on end could take its toll not only on their bodies but also on their state of mind.



As we all very well know, exercise makes us feel good because the brain releases chemicals that make us happy and calm when we move on a regular basis. This, coupled with the fact that exercise can also help a pregnant woman manage her weight even AFTER the pregnancy (call it vanity, but most women worry about maintaining their figure after childbirth) is also likely to make a woman happy. Finally, the obvious reason why maternity exercise is healthy for mommy AND the baby is the fact that constant movement will also minimize any or all muscle discomforts a mother may have throughout the course of the pregnancy and will in effect minimize the potentially harmful stress she may experience.

In conclusion: do not hinder a pregnant woman from moving about; trust in the fact that she can carry a child in her womb for nine months.