4 Safe and Easy Workouts for Pregnancy

Now that you're expecting, you're ready to put your feet up and rest for the next nine months, right? Not so fast. "Regular exercise while you're pregnant can improve your heart health, give you energy, and pump up your self-image," says Frances Crites, MD, an ob-gyn at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Maintaining a healthy body can also reduce common pregnancy complaints like lower back pain, and it may even shorten your labor time.

Check with your doctor before you start any workout routine to make sure the activities you choose are safe. If she gives you the okay, try to get at least 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise three to four days a week. Remember that your goal is to keep up your pre-pregnancy fitness, not to train for Dancing with the Stars. Start with one of these doctor-approved activities.