For some time prior to becoming pregnant, I wavered between "Do I?" or "Don't I?" In the back of my mind, I always knew I would have kids. Once I made the decision, I wanted to do it right.

The author training at thirty-three weeks.

Here are some guidelines for exercise during pregnancy:

Form

Form is always important while weight training. Training with proper form while pregnant is extra important, as you don't want to strain tendons and ligaments that are supporting you, especially around your pelvic girdle. Keep form clean and proper to support the body, back, and baby!

Breathing

We all have to breathe; it's involuntary. But, while pregnant and training, we must remember to focus on deep, full breaths and not run out of breath, as that little one inside of you depends on you to breathe. If you aren't breathing, baby gets affected too. Don't hold your breath!

Flat-out Lying

Past the first trimester (regulate for each individual person), experts recommend that we not lie on our backs flat. In weight training, some exercises are performed on our back, for example, a flat bench press. Lying on your back while pregnant can put pressure on the mother's vena cava, causing lack of blood to baby.

Pressure

When we train as healthy women we can handle extra pressure on our bodies, heads, joints, and muscles, but while pregnant, you want to avoid certain exercises in order to avoid that pressure, for example, the leg press. This particular exercise can put extra pressure on lower parts of your body, undue stress to your uterus, and can cause dizziness and nausea.

Heart Rate

Spiking the heart rate in a healthy woman is a great way to train oxygen output, and it allows us to put our bodies into oxygen deprivation. It works that lung capacity. But a healthy pregnant woman wants to make sure that her heart rate doesn't go much over 140 beats per minute. Don't heat up the body too much either, because it may deprive the baby of oxygen to baby by not being able to breathe properly.

Fatigue

As a healthy woman training, you can push past those tired reps or "harder" training days, but the pregnant body is already going through a lot. Twenty to eighty per cent more blood volume to your uterus alone is good enough reason to rest and break between sets. When you feel like a little rest, or especially if you are dizzy, have a seat.

Water

Drink up, ladies. When we are not pregnant, we need about one ounce of water per every half pound of body weight. So, a 150-pound woman would benefit from 75 ounces of good, clean water per day. However, while pregnant, our bodies are producing more blood and amniotic fluid, so we need extra water to help this process out. Don't allow yourself to get dehydrated.

I love being pregnant and invite all women to enjoy this journey and process as much as I have. One word of advice: I highly recommend you hire a personal trainer who truly knows the training safety for pre-natal. A woman can get hurt, and there are many things to be aware of during this amazing time of our lives. It is great to train and so beneficial, but not worth the mistakes if you are not educated in pre-natal training.

Look at your options. Learn what is available to be as healthy as possible before becoming pregnant. Don't wait till you are pregnant and do it for the baby. You are worth it.

About the Author

Brenda Coulter was in her 33rd week of pregnancy at the time of writing this article and loving every minute of it.