What are some good morning stretching exercises for pregnancy?
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Stretching is good for you, but because of pregnancy hormone called relaxin, you need to be extra careful when stretching while you are pregnant. Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, tells us more.
Your question
What are some good morning stretching exercises for pregnancy? - Doreen in Pompano Beach, Florida
The expert answers
It's wise to be extra-gentle when stretching during pregnancy, since you are carrying a lot of extra weight and your joints are being loosened due to the effects of the hormone relaxin.
Here are some easy stretches you can try. To start, before you get out of bed in the morning, try to take a couple of very slow, deep breaths. Then, roll onto all fours and stretch your back by arching it upward like a cat as you exhale, then relax to a flat-back position as you inhale. Repeat eight to 12 times.
Once you're up and at 'em, slow lunges side to side will help stretch your inner thighs and hips. Finish your morning stretch routine by inhaling as you reach your arms overhead and exhaling as you alternate reaching each arm toward the ceiling, creating more room in your torso area for your growing baby.
Happy stretching!
