5 Reasons you NEED to work out during pregnancy

I can't believe it's only been 6 days since Snooki gave birth to her second child, daughter Giovanna Marie LaValle. The Jersey Shore reality TV star must have worked out during pregnancy. She recently posted a photo to Instagram of her post-pregnancy body and wow, does she look amazing! I would have never guessed this girl just had a baby. She doesn't even have an ounce of belly fat. How did she manage to lose all that weight!

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The mom-of-two posted a picture to Instagram on Thursday of her in casual workout clothes. She had on a pair of cropped leggings and a loose tank top that showed off her slimmed down figure. What's her secret? Apparently Snooki was working out while pregnant. "6 days postpartum still have a long way to go, but working out throughout my pregnancy has definitely helped my body snap back quicker and [made] recovery time most faster!" she captioned her photo. The girl worked her butt off while preggos. She even lifted weights!

Once upon a time women were told they couldn't work out while pregnant. But times have changed and these days most doctors would actually recommend it. Not only can it help you slim down faster post-pregnancy but it comes with a ton of other health benefits too. Not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why you should work out during pregnancy! But make sure to check with your doctor before getting started on any kind of exercise routine.

It makes labor easier: Of course there's no guarantee you'll have an easy, breezy labor but apparently regular exercise can help. "You need to be physically active during pregnancy. It has terrific benefits that are associated with a better pregnancy outcome and even shorter labors. It's a win-win for baby and for mom" high-risk pregnancy expert Laura Riley, MD spokeswoman for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and author of Pregnancy: You and Your Baby told WebMd.

Eases pain: Exercise during pregnancy can even help ease or prevent back pain along with other discomforts. I hear yoga is especially good when it comes to that.

You'll gain less weight: According to research, pregnant women who work out are less likely to gain excess weight and manage to stay within what's consider a healthy weight-gain range. They also lose it quicker post-baby.

It wards off post-partum depression: Pregnant moms who work out report better moods than moms who don't. Supposedly it also helps lessen the symptoms of postpartum depression especially if you stay consistent even after labor.

You might not need a C-section: Did you know that exercising regularly can even help prevent having a C-section? That's right, according to a study, women who work out are 4 times less likely to have the procedure done and are 75 percent less likely to need a forceps delivery.

Image via Snooki/Instagram