The final weeks of your pregnancy are the ideal time to get prepared for the best birth possible. Here’s what you can do…
You may be feeling hefty and sluggish, but gentle exercise can help increase your energy levels and ease your aches and pains. “Keep active as much as possible, but adapt your exercise to suit your stage of pregnancy. Your body tends to slow down at around 30 to 35 weeks so it’s important to listen to it and take any niggles into account,” says Rachel Berg, founder of Pushy Mothers (pushymothers.com). Go for a swim or brisk walk and do squats and lunges to help build your stamina for labour. “Swimming’s great because you can go at your own pace, your joints are protected and your bump’s supported. Make sure you get horizontal – backstroke is a good position – to avoid back pain,” says Rachel. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
Join a prenatal yoga class. “The gentle stretching will ease tension in your body, help you sleep better and release endorphins. Plus, it’s an ideal way to meet like-minded mums-to-be and help calm any nerves you might have,” says Rachel.
“Towards my due date I went for a long walk in the evenings to avoid the daytime heat. And I found that Wii Fit step aerobics were gentle enough to do in the final weeks of my pregnancy too.”Rachel Killoran, 26, from Dorset, mum to Charlie, 13 months.
