Remember, your labour may go on for a few hours – the fitter you are physically, the easier you will be able to sustain your energy levels and so have a better birth experience.

Yoga. Gowri highly recommends yoga during pregnancy; however, it is generally not recommended in the first three months. Slowly introduce it between 14 – 16 weeks of pregnancy and then do at least 20 minutes, daily.  Please don’t worry; you do not have to be a gymnast, or contortionist to do yoga.  The routine that we have outlined in our book, The Gentle Birth Method – month by month programme and have on DVD, show how gentle, but effective, yoga can be. 

Yoga is good to increase muscular strength and flexibility – which is just what you need when you are getting into your delivery positions!

Walking is a great form of exercise, walk briskly for 30 minutes daily. 

Swimming, (preferably in a non-chlorinated pool, such as an ozone-treated pool) once or twice a week. Swimming increases stamina, relaxes the mind, improves circulation, and increases endorphins - the feel-good factor.  As well as this, in the water you are a third of your body weight, therefore you will find that you are more mobile and can achieve a greater range of movements of the upper and lower limbs.  Swimming also helps you to control your weight gain – it not only burns calories through increasing your fitness level but, when in the water, your body automatically has to heat up your skin so you are burning even more calories – helping you to maintain a trim figure throughout pregnancy. Remember the fitter you are the more enjoyable your birth will be, so build up your stamina over the weeks to your own 'Olympic' standard.