Exercise During Pregnancy

Exercise during pregnancy can be a controversial and confusing topic. From those that encourage very low impact and intensity exercise, to those that you see kickboxing or powerlifting up until delivery date. There can be a fine line between what is good for your health and what can actually do you harm. If you are already physically active before falling pregnant and love a good high intensity or impact workout you may find it difficult to accept at first that you will have to scale your workouts back as your body changes and pregnancy progresses. Once you accept this lower intensity and duration workouts will become more enjoyable as you will accept that you are not exercising for weight loss, but for overall health. Pregnancy is the one time in your life where you have a great excuse to dial it down a little (but absolutely no excuse to give it up altogether – unless advised by your doctor for medical reasons). Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to give up resistance training or any form of activity that you enjoy for that matter. There are many benefits to continue incorporating resistance training into your weekly routine given that you have consistently undertaken this form of exercise prior to falling pregnant and have no contraindications. Regular activity during pregnancy is beneficial to both you and your baby, not just physically but for your mind and spirit also. Everyone’s pregnancy journey is different: • You may find that you have morning sickness (that lasts all day) up until 16-20 weeks, or you may have none at all. • You may get pubic symphysis dysfunction or pelvic girdle pain, you might not • Your energy levels may be rock bottom, or they may be similar to before you fell pregnant. The list is endless, but it is important to recognize that everyone is different and what one woman is able to continue doing may be completely different to another. How do I know what is safe and what is not? Early on in pregnancy you may be experiencing morning sickness, have a desire to keep your pregnancy a secret and be dressing and exercising as though you are not pregnant. In the early trimester you need to be mindful of your baby’s organ development and your body’s core temperature as early miscarriage is more prevalent in these early weeks. Once you reach about 16 weeks (some practitioners recommend at 12 weeks), it is advised you avoid any exercises that involve you lying flat on your back to avoid supine hypertension. Exercising on an inclined bench however is a great option to still perform a wide range of exercises or attend your favourite weekly Pump class. As you enter your second trimester you may start to notice your baby bump, altered posture and possible back pain. The hormone relaxin is also increasing within your body which increases joint vulnerability, so whilst you may feel a little more bendy at your yoga class, its important not to over stretch. There is also added pressure and weight on your pelvic floor and altered mechanics of your core so it Is important to avoid performing any kind of abdominal crunch or trunk flexion from here on in. As you reach 28+ weeks and enter your third trimester this is a major time of growth for your baby. You may experience feelings of fatigue(again), interrupted sleep, fluid retention and weight gain which adds to the additional load on your legs, back and pelvis and can often be when you begin to experience pelvic joint pain. Contraindications to exercise whilst pregnant: If you have any of the following you should discuss with your doctor or medical practitioner prior to undertaking exercise to understand your condition and ensure you do not do anything that could aggravate or worsen it. Then seek advice from an adequately trained fitness professional in the pre/post natal field such as a suitably qualified personal trainer or women’s health Physio: • Pre-eclampsia • Restrictive lung disease • Incompetent cervix • Ruptured membranes (water have broken) • Maternal heart disease • Preterm labour • Persistent bleeding • Uncontrolled hypertension Resistance training: If you have been a regular weight trainer prior to falling pregnant it is great to continue lifting weights throughout your pregnancy. Keep the following in mind though and be sure to adjust the intensity, duration and rest throughout your workouts: • Decrease the intensity • Volume can remain high, given that the load remains low • Monitor your heart rate and use the Rate of Perceived Exertion to keep your workouts in a comfortable and safe zone (you will notice that you feel less fit than you used to with all that extra blood volume pumping around your body) • Increase your rest periods • Body weight, fit ball and resistance tubing workouts are great to keep load on the muscles but decrease the intensity • Decrease the load • Monitor the duration – don’t try to be a hero and do you normal 60 minute workouts. 20-30 minute circuits are great to target your anearboic energy systems and give your body that ‘after-burn’ effect, whilst not flogging yourself. Cardio: • Again, monitor your heart rate and use the Rate of Perceived Exertion to keep your workouts in a comfortable and safe zone. Your heart rate zone will be dependent on your pre-pregnancy fitness levels, but generally keeping it below 150bpm is advised. Otherwise the RPE scale means that you want be exercising at an intensity that you would be able to hold a conversation or sing whilst you are exercising, on a scale of 1-10 you want to be about a 4-6. • Avoid high impact or contact activities. You can still do your favorite aerobics class but be sure to take the lower options. • Swimming, cycling and walking are great low impact cardio forms. Listen to your body I also recommend adding in regular yoga or pilates to your workout routine whilst pregnant. Yoga is a fantastic form of exercise to help you connect with your breath, baby and body and a great stress relief. It can help you prepare for the fears of labour and birth and nourish your mind, body and soul. Pilates is also a great form of exercise to connect with your pelvic floor muscles, posture and abdominals in a safe and effective manner to keep the core unit and pelvic muscles strong as they become stretched and loaded over the 9 months. Some other considerations: • Avoid overheating – keep exercise to the cooler parts of the day, in air conditioned environment and always have water with you • Keep well hydrated before, during and after exercise – drink all the water ladies • Be mindful of your centre of gravity – as your belly grows your COG beings to shift and you may find you are off balance more easily • Listen to your body – if something doesn’t feel right – STOP. If you heart rate is feeling a little high or you a re out of breath – REST. Now is not the time to be running marathons. You may feel great while you are exercising, you may find you are shattered later that afternoon or pull up quite sore the following day. • You don’t want to finish your workout feeling completely smashed. Your body is already working overtime to grow and nourish that little human inside of you. • Seek professional advice – if you are unsure, speak to a suitably qualified professional, womens health physio or your doctor • Everyone is different – just because the lady next to you is still jogging, doesn’t mean that is right for you and your body. • Fuel your body with a wide variety of healthy, whole and nourishing foods. Give your bub the best possible head start – everything you eat goes towards your baby. Try your best to eat well. • Enjoy the journey! Remember physical activity is to keep your mind and body healthy as you progress through pregnancy. The added benefits of regular exercise are just a bonus. Regular physical activity during pregnancy is beneficial to both mum and bub, with some key considerations to be taken into account. Remember to monitor your intensity levels, watch the impact and listen to your body. I encourage you to keep physically active throughout your pregnancy and make time for you. Movement does great things for our mental and physical health, so keep moving, keep positive and always listen to your body. If you are unsure remember to seek advice from a trusted professional and do your best to keep moving Mumma’s! If you'd like a safe and effective exercise program whether pre or post natal and wanting to get in some workouts whether in the comfort of your home or the gym get in touch with me brooke@balancefitnessandnutrition.com.au