The Southern Health and Social Care Trust in partnership with the Public Health Agency, local councils and SureStart, have launched a new programme aimed at encouraging expectant and new mums to get active and stay active.
During pregnancy many women can be discouraged from being active and are not aware of the health benefits it can bring for them and their babies or what activities are safe, suitable and available in their local area.
Active Pregnancy aims to inform women of the health benefits of maintaining physical activity during and after pregnancy for women and their babies. The Active Pregnancy programme also directs women to suitable activities which are available in their local areas through SureStart programmes and local leisure centres.
Sabrina Lynn, Senior Health Improvement Officer for Physical Activity, SHSCT said,
“Pregnancy for most women does not mean that they should stop being active or not start to become more active. Doing some regular physical activity during pregnancy is part of living a healthy lifestyle and contributes to overall health and wellbeing for both the mother and baby. For most women moderate physical activity during pregnancy is safe and can help to keep both mother and baby healthy as their body adapts to pregnancy and prepares for birth”.
As part of the Active Pregnancy programme, 10 fitness instructors from leisure centres across the Trust area have completed a Specialist Exercise for Pre & Post Natal qualification in order to increase the provision of physical activities for pregnant women within leisure centres.
For more information contact Promoting Wellbeing Team on Tel: 028 3831 1482 or Email: rebekah.lee@southerntrust.hscni.net .
The programme is also available online at www.southerntrust.hscni.net/activepregnancy
Picture: The newly qualified fitness instructors leading the Active Pregnancy programme.
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