Your Guide to Pregnancy Fitness

The Basics

Pregnancy used to be an excuse to put your feet up and feast on Fudgsicles. But now, not so much. In fact, getting off the couch -- and often -- can help you have a smoother pregnancy. Experts recommend that you exercise for 30 minutes a day, most days, which means pregnancy is no reason to push "get in better shape" to the bottom of your to-do list. "Every morning during my second pregnancy, just when I was starting to feel like I wanted to flop onto the couch, I'd strap my toddler into the stroller and walk for an hour," says Stephanie Kilroy, of Reno, Nevada. "I felt energized and relaxed and could sleep better."