pregnancy and exercise

It can be difficult to embrace that pregnancy makes things like running or yoga hard to do. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was so excited to grow a gorgeous belly and become a momma. Innocently, I had no idea how intense the crappy feelings symptoms of pregnancy would be. If you recently discovered there's a bun in your oven, or you're planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, check out how you can alleviate some of the issues pregnancy brings up that might get in the way of your workouts.

• Urinating often: In a 30-minute workout session, you may have the urge to pee three different times. Work out close to a bathroom so you can quickly relieve yourself and get back to your workout.
• Feeling overheated: Head indoors where the AC is flowing, and make sure you're wearing comfortable workout clothes made of breathable wicking material. If you love being outside, move your workouts to a pool or lake.
• Round ligament pain: As your belly expands, the round ligaments that support your uterus are getting stretched out, so it makes sense that you'd feel intense cramp-like pains in your lower belly. Wearing a supportive compression band that's specifically designed for prenatal exercise might help. If you feel a sharp twinge during a sweat session, reduce the intensity of your workout, and if that doesn't bring relief, take a break.

Keep reading for more ways to continue exercising while pregnant.

Exercise has so many benefits for moms-to-be: better sleep, strength and flexibility, stress relief, ease of pregnancy discomforts like lower back pain, increased energy, and preparation for labor and delivery. You may not be able to do those 12-mile runs like you used to, but you can certainly walk, jog (or do a combo of the two), do yoga, and strength train. One thing you need to be aware of is that as your baby bump expands, the muscles and ligaments holding in your uterus may get strained when exercising. The discomfort is known as round ligament pain.

If this sounds familiar, you'll need a little extra support around your belly. The folks at Expecting Comfort sent me an amazing must have for all pregos who exercise: the Amon Maternity Support Band ($22). It's like the Bella Band, but since it's made with breathable microfiber fabric, it offers more of a snug fit without stretching out over time.

You can wear the band folded in half, which I found offered more support when doing higher impact exercise like jogging. Or you can extend the band to fully cover your belly, which I liked when walking. See how the band isn't as wide in the back? It not only prevents bunching, but it also added a little extra lower back support. I love how this band stays put when you're in motion, so you don't have to futz with it while working out. If you're an active prego, this is so worth the $22. I was ready to give up on my jogs, but this band made all the difference.

Check out a video of the Amom band when you read more