It goes without saying that exercise is good for you. During pregnancy, it is essensial to keep up your regular exercise routine.

Sit ups during pregnancy are perfectly safe in your first trimester - however, you will want to avoid anything involving lying on your back after this time - it can cause your uterus to compress blood vessels and deprive your new baby of oxygen.

Many experts recommend a good alternative to sit ups while pregnant - kneeling on the floor on your hands and knees and arc your back and relax it.

Any kind of heavy exercise can divert blood from more critical areas of the body when you're pregnant, so it's important not to over do it.

When I was pregnant, I found walking, yoga and swimming to be the best exercise for me - but you may have to experiment to find the best combination for you. If you are ever worried about your levels of exercise, always check with your doctor first.

Remember to drink plenty of liquids before and after your exercise, and don't over exert yourself. Your own body is the best judge of this - if you start to feel funny, stop.

Exercising regularly during pregnancy can have several benefits - it will be a lot easier for you to deliver the baby and keep your body strong - not to mention the benefits to the baby. Always remember, it's always better to talk to a doctor if you have any concerns about your health.