exercising with a pregnant friend

[wtk]

Hello! I usually post on the VF forum, and for this question I was told I could get some good advice over here.

I have a friend who is 6 months pregnant and would like to start exercising. Except for playing basketball in college, she hasn't exercised before. I, on the other hand, have been exercising for 2 years. Are there any exercises we can do together to help her get started? I figured we could just go walking, but I was wondering if she can or should do any other type of light exercising? Can she lift light weigths? And don't worry, she'll definitely ask her doctor before doing anything.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give us!

 

[Sheila]

Starting an exercise program while pregnant

Hello there,

I think it is wonderful that you would like to help your friend start exercising during this special time in her life. I would suggest that you have your friend contact her caregiver to see if there are any organized pre/postnatal fitness classes in your area. If one is not readily available in your area, you might be able to find a personal trainer who has had specific training in the field. She really needs a program designed by a trained professional who specializes in the field of pre/postnatal fitness to ensure that every minute of her workout is safe and effective. I would also suggest that she purchase "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" by James Clapp III, an excellent reference for pregnant women of all fitness levels.

Walking is definitely a good start. You want to make sure that she can carry on a conversation while walking. I would also suggest that she also purchase "Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year" by Elizabeth Noble. It has great information regarding abdominal and pelvic floor training during pregnancy.

I really hope that you can find an instructor or personal trainer certified in pre/postnatal fitness who could design your friend a safe and effective workout regimen after a thorough screening and assessment.

Let me know what you all find out. If you cannot find such a program or trainer, email me and we'll go from there.

Good luck and tell your friend to start doing her kegels!