This is a period when you'll definitely need to strengthen the muscles in your lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. As your baby grows, the belly expands and inevitably, excessive stress is placed on your postural muscles.

In addition, it is important to engage in functional strength training as these exercises will help you get on with your daily chores. Remember, you are pregnant - not crippled! Medical and health evidence show that women who are physically active during pregnancy suffer fewer of the common pre-natal discomforts such as cramps, swelling, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

What's more, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists state that pregnant women who are without obstetric or medical complications can perform a moderate level of physical activity to maintain cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness during and after pregnancy.

Now that you've delivered, gone are the pre-natal health concerns. However, in its place comes a different problem: how to lose the pregnancy weight and regain your strength.

Motherhood places a tremendous strain on the body. Health practitioners from physiotherapists to chiropractors are likely to reveal that new mums tend to be their regular patients as they suffer from unstable ligaments and an injury-prone spine. All thanks to the physical demands of pregnancy coupled with the rigors of caring for their newborn.

During pregnancy, your abdominal walls will tear and the result is a weakened core musculature. So it is an irony that women have to take on their most challenging physical role when they are actually at their weakest. What this means is that you will need to first strengthen your mid section all over again; and while caring for baby, learn good lifting, carrying and holding skills in order to prevent injuries.

For all the fathers (Yes, we thought of you too) who put on weight during your wife's pregnancy, check out our Strength Training and Fat Loss page.