Exercise helps to boost your fertility and supports a healthy pregnancy and postnatal recovery. So, the Lincolnshire Maternity and Neonatal programme (Better Births Lincolnshire) are encouraging women to move more and get fit for pregnancy and beyond this year.

In 2021, 6,747 babies were born to women living in Lincolnshire and whilst most mums have healthy births, encouraging women to get fit for pregnancy is all part of the Lincolnshire Better Births team’s aim to ensure that all mothers and babies achieve healthy outcomes.

Fitness brings a host of physical and mental benefits to the mother and her baby, and the team of midwives at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust are keen to dispel the myths that pregnant women should take it easy and refrain from exercise altogether in case they harm the baby. 

“Being active during pregnancy is great for you and your baby. It helps to maintain healthy blood pressure, prevent and manage diabetes of pregnancy and keep any weight gain within healthy limits. It is also very beneficial for your mental health and sleep,” explains Yvonne McGrath, Consultant Midwife, ULHT.

“Labour is often easier for women who are active during pregnancy, so aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week.  You don’t have to do this all at once and can build up in ten-minute blocks. If you are already active when you find out you are pregnant, you can carry on, just listen to your body.”

Active Lincolnshire, are working with Better Births Lincolnshire programme, and providing a programme of activities for mums and mums to be to engage in.  They are behind ‘Let’s Move Lincolnshire’ Getting Active for Mums to be and New Mums – Let’s Move Lincolnshire (letsmovelincolnshire.com) and educational programmes, ‘This Mum Moves’. This Mum Moves | The APF (activepregnancyfoundation.org)

“At Active Lincolnshire we want everyone to have the opportunity to be physically active,” explains Donna Sutton, Project Lead. “As well as the physical benefits, there are many secondary and social benefits including improved mood and energy.  This will certainly help during those long days and nights with a new-born baby.” Donna has just given birth to her second child, so knows about the positivity’s of exercise.

It doesn’t have to be an exercise class in the gym that women take part in.  Any activity that will raise your heart rate, that will make you breathe faster and make you feel warmer will all help to boost your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.

Mums can find out more about the dos and don’ts of exercising and other advice around pregnancy fitness by following the Better Births Lincolnshire Facebook page Get fit for pregnancy and beyond in Lincolnshire | Facebook

Published 30/01/2023