Everyone who has been pregnant will agree that labour isn’t exactly the most pleasant part of motherhood. But according to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, there’s something you can do to lengthen the amount of time you spend in that uncomfortable state: exercise while you’re pregnant.
For the study, researchers had a group of 508 healthy pregnant women who were nine to 11 weeks pregnant either take part in a moderate exercise program (they exercised three times per week) or simply learn more about the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise while pregnant. When the time came to give birth, the women who had exercised had a shorter labour by almost an hour. Exercising while pregnant can help ease postpartum depression too but always consult your doctor to determine what’s right for you and your body.