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For active mothers-to-be here’s some good news! Though it may sound challenging exercise is good for you and baby. So if you’re looking for a way to alleviate the usual aches and pains that come with being pregnant, exercise your way to the delivery date.

Just be sure to exercise the right way. Doing so strengthens your abs and core. This also minimizes back aches and rumor has it reduces labor pains. Just a heads up - not all exercises are for pregnant women. Safety is very important for both you and your baby so pay close attention to some restrictions. To lay it out, here are some Dos and Don’ts when exercising.

First and foremost get your doctor’s approval before beginning, or if continuing with, any exercise program. Very important.

If you’re just starting out slow and steady should be your watchword. It’s usually best to wait for your 2nd trimester to start. Do walking exercises more but do the intense ones less. Better yet limit those intense exercises to 3 sessions per week. Otherwise it’s generally okay to stick to the exercise program you had before your pregnancy.

Doing a lot of aerobics and strength training is a good idea. Since posture changes normally happen during pregnancy such exercises will help you adjust. After your 2nd trimester you will find swimming and other weightless exercises more comfortable.

A simply way to maintain muscle tone is brisk walking.

Even though exercising is good for you, you want to stay within 60-65% of your maximum heart rate.

Take frequent breaks to avoid over heating - something that can harm your unborn child.

Warm up 5 minutes before doing anything approaching an intense workout. Slow walking is a good example of something you can do to warm up.

Anything that includes a risk of falling like biking, in line skating or skiing should probably be avoided after some point. As well as doing exercises that require you lay on your back during the first trimester as that can restrict blood and oxygen flow to the baby.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you. For example if you experience any kind of dizziness, chest pain, or bleeding stop. You want to discuss such things with your doctor. Obviously common sense should kick in here. Still some might believe they can take the pain and keep going. But in this case it might not be a good idea.

Depending on how active you were before the pregnancy determines in part how safe it is to exercise while you’re pregnant. Before starting any workout routine it’s very important to get medical clearance and establish a safe workout level.

Jalinn M Hardy is a freelance writer who writes on how to use inner thigh tightening exercises to firm up and shed inches. Or more on the best ab exercises for blasting belly fat. That and exercises to lose weight quickly can be found on MeltOffTheInches.com - the site for those who want to trim, tone and tighten.