Exercises to AVOID??

[gina]

I was wondering if there are particular exercises that one should avoid during mid to late pregnancy.

I guess there are some that your body may find particularly uncomfortable, say a reverse crunch or lunge because your stomach gets in the way. Maybe those will be somewhat obvious to identify as I go along. (24 weeks now). And I suppose if you feel pain that is a big clue to stop.

But what about others that you feel you *can* do, but perhaps you *shouldn't* do. In particular I was thinking about deadlifts--say when you are picking a barbell off the floor to do another exercise.

This morning, when picking up my barbell to do squats, I worried that I could push the baby right out of me! I sort of felt like I was bearing down" hard on the _____ region-- ____ being around the baby or the pelvis????

Then I got all worried about stiff legged deadlifts and squats too! ALthough, I believe the latter are even recommended! Tricky business this exercising while pregnant.

Is it possible to start early labor because of certain exercises or amounts of weight lifting?

Thank you,
Gina

P.S. Sorry to be so absent. In addition to having all of the new baby things to take care of, my husband, who graduates just one month before the baby is due, accepted a job offer in another state. I have so many things to take care of. Forgive me for just asking when I haven't even been replying!

 

[willowe]

Hi Gina,
I guess I would have to give the predictable answer and say listen to your body and don't do anything which doesn't feel right or which causes you discomfort. Personally, I didn't do any ab work whilst pregnant, as it just didn't feel comfortable for ME. Other pregnant women may be able to do ab work with no problems - we are all made differently, and carry our babies differently, so it follows that different exercises will be suitable (or unsuitable) for different women. I only used dumbells whilst pregnant, so that I could pick the weights up individually (and therefore safely) rather than having to heave a barbell off the floor. I modified anything which didn't feel right and can honestly say that my fitness level did not suffer as a result (especially as you are already carrying extra weight and using extra energy to sustain your baby). I am actually lighter now, 5 weeks post-partum, than I was before I got pregnant, and credit this solely to keeping up my fitness routine whilst pregnant, but modifying where I needed to.
Hope this helps - take care of yourself and baby bump!!
Kaz