If you’re a guy, a girl, pregnant, trying to be pregnant or post natal: exercise (and how you do it) is a crucial topic if you’re trying to have a healthy baby, principally because the science and medical research shows that doing it, not doing it and how you do it has an effect on all of us. There is still a lot of misconceptions and misinformation out there so here is the quick summary of what you need to know.

So – how do we do it in the best way for a healthy conception, pregnancy, baby and post baby?

On top of my usual deep dive into the latest medical and scientific research I have been lucky enough to go through my own conception, pregnancy and post-natal journey with Natalie Ferris a pre and post natal specialist.

Here is the down and dirty of what you need to know:

FERTILITY: exercise matters and has been shown to have a real impact on our ability to get pregnant – both positive and negative. However – what matters is HOW you do it. This comes from its impact on the hormones that impact our cycles and also its impact on sperm count and motility. It can also potentially have an impact on a fertilised egg’s ability to implant. Click here to learn all you need to know about what the science says about how exercise can both help and hinder your cause.

FOR YOUR CYCLE: believe it or not (this was news to me) the point in your cycle has a real effect on your ability to exercise. If you take a step back and think about it, it actually makes quite a lot of sense – I mean take the time just before you get your period – we all know that feeling, you’re sluggish and bloated and generally a workout is the last thing you want to do. Click here to find out what goes on at each point in your cycle and how you can use this to your advantage.

PREGNANCY: there is still so much misunderstanding and misinformation when it comes to exercise and pregnancy. So much so that a survey showed as many as 60% of doctors were not aware of the updated guidelines! Click here to learn from Natalie about how you should exercise, why, the risks and benefits and potential preventative powers of exercise in pregnancy. If you’re feeling nerdy (like me) then click here take a look at the science part too. Remember however, it is important to ensure you have no pregnancy complications – so make sure you check this with your doctor before thinking about exercise.

EXERCISE AND BREASTFEEDING: there is no doubt about it – feeding a growing person takes a lot out of us. When I had my son I had a lot of trouble producing enough milk. One of my first questions was how would exercise impact my already shaky milk production. Here is what I learnt.

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This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The information on this website has been developed following years of personal research and from referenced and sourced medical research. Before making any changes we strongly recommend you consult a healthcare professional before you begin.

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