Moving and exercising during pregnancy is a great way to keep away many aches, pains and bouts of swelling. In addition to exercise, mom needs to understand how supplementation changes during pregnancy.

A woman's body changes rapidly as a pregnancy progresses. Moving and exercising during pregnancy is a great way to keep away many aches, pains and bouts of swelling. The female body can prepare for the birth of baby with increased hormone levels, fluid retention, blood volume and caloric intake, but exercise provides a benefit that is just as important. In addition to exercise, mom needs to understand how supplementation changes during pregnancy.

Exercise

Exercise is important for pregnant women to maintain strength and flexibility while the body is changing dramatically. The physical demands of birth are enough to keep mom walking and even doing low impact aerobics during her 40 week journey. In addition, you need to be able to deal with the added average weight gain of 20-30 pounds. Kegel exercises are also important to strengthen the muscles mom uses to push baby through the birth canal.

Prenatal Vitamins

Supplementation during pregnancy is a hot topic today. The basic supplementation will include prenatal vitamins, which every pregnant woman should start taking well before conception, and if you haven't been on a supplement, from the moment you find out being pregnant. Over the counter prenatal vitamins are fine to start with until the pregnant woman attends her first doctor’s appointment. Prenatal vitamins offer the perfect balance of vitamins and many minerals, and it's not recommended to use any other vitamin supplements that are not specifically geared towards the pregnancy.

While most physicians will advise mom to continue taking the over the counter vitamin supplements, some will prescribe a specific brand during pregnancy, though there are usually no real differences in composition of vitamins between prescription or over-the-counter prenatal supplements .

Any other supplements mom is taking when she finds out she is pregnant, should be stopped until she can speak with her attending physician about alternative health supplementation. Not all supplements are safe for pregnant women and should be used with caution.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids 

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential oils to help promote your baby’s healthy fetal development and increase overall pregnancy wellness. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to support:

• The development of your baby’s brain and eyes.
• The development of your baby’s heart and cardiac/ respiratory system.
• Increased infant cognitive function, intellectual capacity and attention span.
• Decreased odds of premature delivery.
• Enhance visual learning and memory ability in infants and young children.
• Increased pregnancy health for mothers and mothers-to-be.

For fetal, infant, and mother health, the two most important Omega-3 fatty acids are EPA and DHA. EPA is important in supporting your baby's cardiac and circulatory systems; DHA is a key component of the central nervous system and promotes the development your baby's brain, eyes, and cognitive abilities.