Remember that blissful moment when you peed on the stick and realized life was growing inside of you? And then about four months in, after all of your concerns about the baby’s health and the viability of the pregnancy were laid to rest, the tiny little thought occurred to you, ‘holy crap I hope I can get my pre-pregnancy body back!’ Well, guess what? You’re not alone.

Some women feel guilty about thinking these thoughts because they think it might be selfish to worry about something as trivial as their own looks rather than simply being thankful for the blessing of the life that grows inside of them. But don’t forget that your physical and mental well being is vital to the well being of your baby during and after pregnancy.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to maintain a fit body. In fact, you do not have to wait until after pregnancy to address the issue. Most women can safely continue a work out program during their pregnancy which might make it easier to regain your shape after pregnancy, and quite possibly, prepare you for an easier delivery by strengthening the muscles needed for giving birth.

Here are a few more benefits to exercising during pregnancy:

*A reduction in bone density loss while breast feeding.

*A reduction in common pregnancy complaints such as hemorrhoids, constipation, leg cramps, back pain, water retention, etc.

*Decreased incidence of loss of bladder control during pregnancy and postpartum.

Hello? Did you hear me? Less of a chance of peeing your pants sounds pretty good to me.

What is even better, is that according to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), babies born to mothers who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to have colic and be cranky, which translates to more sleep for mom! They also have greater neurodevelopment scores in oral language and motor areas when tested at age five.

So don’t be afraid of it - get your body moving - for you, and the baby!