Don’t have time to hit the gym? Here are some of the best free pregnancy workout videos to keep you active during your pregnancy! Most of them can be done pretty quickly.
Pregnancy Exercise Videos
At every prenatal appointment I go to, my OBGYN asks me how much I am exercising.
I’d imagine this is pretty typical of most women’s prenatal appointments, and I’m always happy that I can tell them I exercise every day – even if it’s just a 20 minute walk.
For me, exercising is one of the only things that keeps me going during pregnancy. Even when I was throwing up multiple times a day, the time I was able to dedicate to some kind of physical activity makes such a huge difference in my mood and how I feel.
There have been times with this pregnancy where I got sick before and after I would work out, but the time in between was heaven for me. I’m not saying that so you think I’m totally awesome (because let’s be real, most of my days are spent laying down feeling semi-miserable), but to let you know that I think exercising during pregnancy is worth it!
For me, exercising is one of the only things that keeps me going during pregnancy. Even when I was throwing up multiple times a day, the time I was able to dedicate to some kind of physical activity makes such a huge difference in my mood and how I feel.
There have been times with this pregnancy where I got sick before and after I would work out, but the time in between was heaven for me. I’m not saying that so you think I’m totally awesome (because let’s be real, most of my days are spent laying down feeling semi-miserable), but to let you know that I think exercising during pregnancy is worth it!
I’m not someone who is a fitness guru or who is in amazing shape. To be honest, maintaining a steady, healthy weight has always been a struggle for me (and it probably always will be – despite my very best efforts. That’s a story for another time though.)
Because of this, it’s important to me to only gain the necessary pregnancy weight to keep my baby healthy, and to stay active during pregnancy.
After Jack was born, I lost all the weight right away, plus about 5 or 6 pounds…and I was in the best shape of my life! I don’t know how much of that was attributed to luck and breastfeeding, but I felt like some of it was due to my consistent efforts to exercise until just about the day Jack was born.
Staying healthy during pregnancy is important for both your well-being, and your unborn child’s (be sure to check out these tips I wrote awhile back for a healthy pregnancy).
With this baby, I’ve been able to either go to our gym or go on walks just about every day. However, there are some days where that just isn’t possible, but I still want to get some kind of exercise in. So, I turned to the wonderful world wide web to find some free prenatal exercise videos. There are a lot out there, and not all of them are that great. The ones I’ve listed below are the ones I’ve enjoyed the most, and that I feel provide a safe, effective workout. Most of them aren’t very long, so they can be done whenever you have time (or whenever you happen to have a fleeting moment of energy!)
I know exercising isn’t easy (or even possible) for some women during pregnancy. If you didn’t exercise before at all, it can be especially challenging…or just in those latter months when you just feel too big to do anything! However, I believe that exercising really can help improve your mood, help with labor and delivery, help you be healthier after your baby is born, and positively affect your baby’s well-being.
Of course, you should always consult with your physician before doing any workout plan, especially if you didn’t work out before!
This post from WebMD has some great guidelines on exercise during pregnancy, especially regarding those who need to avoid (or limit) exercise. Here are a few helpful tools for exercising when pregnant:
- Heart rate monitor – I love my Polar FT7!
- Yoga Mat
- Yoga ball
- Grip socks
- Maternity support belt
Prenatal Workouts
10 Minute Solution Prenatal Pilates
I absolutely love this short series – there are five videos in it (you can view the first one below, which gives a brief synopsis of the series) or you can click on the link above, which will have all the videos next to the main video. I love that each of the videos is just 10 minutes, so you can do just one, or you can do multiple. The exercises definitely are effective, but they don’t last super long, and I always feel great after I do them. I feel like the instructor is really easy to understand and follow – she’s in her third trimester in these videos, so they are safe throughout every trimester! Each video focuses on something different, which I really liked.
Denise Austin Pregnancy Workouts
I really enjoy Denise Austin’s workouts. They aren’t too difficult, but challenging enough to feel like I’m actually doing something (which isn’t always the case with a lot of prenatal workout videos I’ve tried!)
Yoga during pregnancy is so relaxing, and it is a highly recommended exercise. Some yoga isn’t really recommended for pregnant women though, so it’s important to do yoga that is specifically for pregnant women. I really enjoy these videos with Katy Appleton as the instructor, just because they are short and to the point. I always feel really relaxed after doing these!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting Workout with Heidi Murkoff
This one is kind of fun, but it’s very effective!
JessicaSmithTV 20 Minute Pregnancy Workouts (Cardio and Strength)
These are a little longer than some that I’ve referenced, but they are easy to follow and fun. Jessica Smith has cardio, strength, and stretching videos for pregnant women, and I think they are pretty effective.
Stretching
And of course, stretching while pregnant is super important! Here are a few stretching workouts that I think look great. Stretching can really help with lower back pain (especially if you suffer from sciatica at any point – which many women do!)
Now that you’ve got your health on the right track – let’s make sure you have your labor and delivery experience get there, too! If you are approaching your first time in the delivery room, make sure you checkout the Online Prenatal Class!
- It’s fast and all about you. You don’t have to go anywhere but your living room couch to finish this course.
- It’s engaging – Hilary is to the point but still makes the course entertaining and helps to put you at ease before the big day
- Accurate – Hilary has over 16 years of experience as a L&D nurse and keeps her knowledge up to date and relevant. No question is too dumb!
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