I was wondering if there are any absolute do's and don't's for ab workouts while pregnant. I am only 7 weeks, but feel my waste expanding already. I have heard that you shouldn't exercise on your back during pregnancy, I don't know how to work my abs without doing this. Any suggestions. I have order Dr. Clapp's book, but it isn't here yet. Wr
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abs
- Thread starter wrwatch
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Hazel
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I forget the author's name, Bregetta something? (SOrry, I'm at work and don't have the book handy). Anyway, there's a thread somewhere on this forum with the name of the book -- the author was Jane Seymour's personal trainer and helped her get back in shape after her twins were born. She shows alternative exercises for pregnancy. (Dr. Clapp doesn't show any particular exercises, even though his book is great.) Mostly, this consists of working on the hands and knees while either contracting the abs into the spine or for obliques, doing "tail wags." I know Cathe described these moves in an earlier thread not too long ago, and that might be helpful (and cheaper than buying the book, unless you're still having trouble visualizing the moves).
As for laying on the back, you only have to stop that as you get bigger. It's the weight of the uterus and baby pressing on the big vein that returns blood from your legs to your heart that causes the problem -- too much pressure there can cause your (and consequently the baby's) blood pressure to drop. Some people say after the first trimester, some say after four months. I think I went a bit longer than that, but believe me, you'll know it when you get to the point where you can't exercise on your back anymore. You'll start feeling naueous and hot and then get really light-headed. That's when I knew it was time to stop.
Hope that helps somewhat!
Hazel
I forget the author's name, Bregetta something? (SOrry, I'm at work and don't have the book handy). Anyway, there's a thread somewhere on this forum with the name of the book -- the author was Jane Seymour's personal trainer and helped her get back in shape after her twins were born. She shows alternative exercises for pregnancy. (Dr. Clapp doesn't show any particular exercises, even though his book is great.) Mostly, this consists of working on the hands and knees while either contracting the abs into the spine or for obliques, doing "tail wags." I know Cathe described these moves in an earlier thread not too long ago, and that might be helpful (and cheaper than buying the book, unless you're still having trouble visualizing the moves).
As for laying on the back, you only have to stop that as you get bigger. It's the weight of the uterus and baby pressing on the big vein that returns blood from your legs to your heart that causes the problem -- too much pressure there can cause your (and consequently the baby's) blood pressure to drop. Some people say after the first trimester, some say after four months. I think I went a bit longer than that, but believe me, you'll know it when you get to the point where you can't exercise on your back anymore. You'll start feeling naueous and hot and then get really light-headed. That's when I knew it was time to stop.
Hope that helps somewhat!
Hazel
Abdominal training during pregnancy
<center><font size="1" color="#ff0000">LAST EDITED ON Jun-16-00 AT 00:21AM (EST)</font></center>
Hello,
I went through our prior posts regarding ab training during pregnancy and found the following for you:
"Page" 2: "AB work after month 4"
"Page" 4: "Another AB question..."
"Page" 6: "Obliques"
"Page" 10: "Abs"
Also, the latest American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG)Guidelines for Prenatal Exercise state that no exercise should be done in the supine (on your back) position after the first trimester of pregnancy.
"Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year," by Elizabeth Noble is an excellent reference. I recommend this book and the book by Dr. Clapp to all my prenatal and postpartum students as well as to the people who take the Healthy Moms prenatal and postpartum fitness instructor training workshops.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted and good luck.
Sheila Watkins
<center><font size="1" color="#ff0000">LAST EDITED ON Jun-16-00 AT 00:21AM (EST)</font></center>
Hello,
I went through our prior posts regarding ab training during pregnancy and found the following for you:
"Page" 2: "AB work after month 4"
"Page" 4: "Another AB question..."
"Page" 6: "Obliques"
"Page" 10: "Abs"
Also, the latest American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG)Guidelines for Prenatal Exercise state that no exercise should be done in the supine (on your back) position after the first trimester of pregnancy.
"Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year," by Elizabeth Noble is an excellent reference. I recommend this book and the book by Dr. Clapp to all my prenatal and postpartum students as well as to the people who take the Healthy Moms prenatal and postpartum fitness instructor training workshops.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted and good luck.
Sheila Watkins
Thanks for the research
I have been a little out of the loop lately. I am taking a crash graduate course to get my ESL endorsement. It has been 12 days straight of school from 9-8 with a short break for lunch and supper.(We had to go on Sunday!) It has truly be the course from hell. Good stuff, but a crazy way to get it. I really need those ab exercises after all this sitting. It like to kill me. Thanks for looking up the info on abs for me. I can't believe how big I am getting already. I am only 9 weeks, but I can't get my jeans zipped. I am pooching out much higher than I did with my other kids. I have lost 2lbs, but that might be because of the lack of activity and all day sickness. I am starting to worry that twins are on the way. ( My grandma is a twin and I have twin cousins.) Is it true that you get bigger faster with your later pregnancies? I haven't been pregnant for 11 years and am in far better shape now then when I had my other two.
I realize this email isn't very clear. I tell you, the brain just doesn't work too well when the backside is wore out.
I have been a little out of the loop lately. I am taking a crash graduate course to get my ESL endorsement. It has been 12 days straight of school from 9-8 with a short break for lunch and supper.(We had to go on Sunday!) It has truly be the course from hell. Good stuff, but a crazy way to get it. I really need those ab exercises after all this sitting. It like to kill me. Thanks for looking up the info on abs for me. I can't believe how big I am getting already. I am only 9 weeks, but I can't get my jeans zipped. I am pooching out much higher than I did with my other kids. I have lost 2lbs, but that might be because of the lack of activity and all day sickness. I am starting to worry that twins are on the way. ( My grandma is a twin and I have twin cousins.) Is it true that you get bigger faster with your later pregnancies? I haven't been pregnant for 11 years and am in far better shape now then when I had my other two.
I realize this email isn't very clear. I tell you, the brain just doesn't work too well when the backside is wore out.