Work it out, baby: This week’s Guest Blogger is Leanmeanmomma

Cliona O'Connor is a stay-at-home-mum of three, soon to be four, who recently gave up her Medical Rep job in favour of full-time chaos. She blogs about her adventures at leanmeanmomma.ie. I have a passion for sports of any kind – spectating or participating (when I get time). Other than that I'm a fitness fanatic, food-loving, tail-chasing, cake-baking ordinary girl with a fondness for wine, jellies, and shopping. Working out when you're pregnant: Slippers – check Pj's – check Tea and biscuits – check Orange is the New Black – check, check, check Gym bag squirreled away in the deepest, darkest corner of my house – check. Does this sound familiar? There is nothing like being pregnant to suck the will to go to the gym out of you. The first twelve weeks, let's be honest, you feel like some one has plugged you into the house mains like a spare battery pack and the house is using you as an energy supply to power everything! This leaves you feeling like a deflated bouncy castle – energy sapped from you in the most extraordinary, unexpected and unforgiving way possible. [caption id="attachment_220830" align="alignnone" width="474"] I'm wearing shorts from The Gap with full elastic waist. My vest is TK Maxx. I just size-up and most importantly, make sure they are really long in length. Neither are specifically maternity.[/caption] Let's face it, it's not that the second Trimester is the 'honeymoon' Trimester, as they call it. It's simply a case of relativity. It's just the lesser of the three evils, compared to the first and third that are sandwiched around it – from a getup and go point of view! Don't get me wrong, I'm not whinging about the privilege of being 'with child'... I know it is a privilege many would give anything for. It's simply a biological fact that you can some days feel like a bus has hit you. But you just suck it up, appreciate it for what it is (a momentary discomfort soon to be rewarded with a life of joy) and hit the gym. [caption id="attachment_220831" align="alignnone" width="474"] Here I'm wearing H&M drawstring waist shorts and a super-long stretch vest I got in Decathlon in France. But Penneys use the same fabric - so size up and snap up anything that normally seems too long.[/caption] 
From chatting to friends, I have discovered as pregnant women we are mostly just a bit scared and apprehensive with regards to to do in the gym or outside for exercise during every Trimester. And the difficult thing is, there's no one answer to this question – everyone's circumstances are so different. But one thing is for certain: It is extremely beneficial for Mum and baby to work out when pregnant. [caption id="attachment_220832" align="alignnone" width="474"] Here I'm wearing elastic-waist Nike shorts (from Kildare village) with an extra stretchy white vest. I layer a looser see-through vest over it, I snapped it up at TK Maxx for €16.99.[/caption] Why? Exercise eases and can prevent back pain, boosts your energy levels and mood, aids sleep, prevents excess weight gain and increases stamina and muscle strength. This is a very simple message, but one that needs to be heard. It will not only benefit you while pregnant, but it also helps with recovery during and immediately after delivery, and in the longer term too. Follow her LeanMeanMomma blog or on instagram, on Twitter @leanmeanmomma or on Facebook.