Squats and Lunges....Safe???

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Angie S.

Member
Hi Moms!

I am so happy to have found this forum! I have enjoyed reading all of your posts. I've learned alot! Thanks. I am 5 months pregnant with my first baby. I stumbbled across this forum as I was checking out Cathe's new videos!
I am a step and spinning instructor and avid runner. Although, when I found out I was pregnant I immediately quit running because I was nervous that running would harm the baby. I know it's silly! I continue to spin and lift weights. I am so inspired by all of you guys!
I need your opinions on doing squats and lunges off of a high step while pregnant. I've read some articles that say it's fine and others that say it's unsafe. My lower body is really getting out of shape. Please help!! Any ideas on what to do that's safe.


Thanks so much!!

Angie.
 
One of my friends was told it is unsafe, I never heard such a thing in all my research. I did squats up until I gave birth to dd#1. Congrats and join us on the moms to be check in.
 
Welcome! This forum is so great and helpful
You can continue your squats and lunges, once it feels uncomfortable you'll back off. Just listen to your body. It speaks the truth;-) I'm still doing squats and lunges following Lo Max, I'm a lil ahead of you. We'll see if I can still do them in a couple months.
Good luck!


Mommy to Hannah Lilly born 3/25/05
 
Thanks for your advice! I'm off to the gym to do some squats and lunges!! Do you use weights while doing squats?

Thanks,
Angie
 
I did squats and lunges on the day I delivered. They are one of the exercises that was REALLY confortable for me and made me feel great. I remember going into a low plie and hoping my water would break each time I went down. Cool thing is..you have built in increases in weights as you get bigger. I used a 20# bar towards the end - more earlier on. Blessings.

Briee
 
I did squats and lunges on the day my water broke. I too started off with my regular weighted barbell(40lbs at the time) but was down to 25 pounds at the very end. I also didn't squat or lunge as deep toward the end just because my belly kept hitting my thighs and it got annoying. Also, I avoided leg presses because they got my heart rate up too high and also because of balance issues.

My favorite workouts during pregnancy were: Legs and Glutes, IMAX 3 (step only premix), Low Max, and Low Impact Step.

Hope that helps and good luck,
 
Thanks Wendy! I'm going to order Cathe's legs & glutes tomorrow, knowing that many of you have done it safely during pregnancy. It looks awesome, I watched the DVD preview and I think that's just what my butt needs!!

Angie
 
This is what Sheila Watkins (she used to be the moderator here - maybe she still is?) wrote to me when I was pregnant in 2002:

Let's set the record straight about plie squats. As my knowledge of biomechanics increases, I am better able to analyze an exercise's effect on the pregnant body. Plie squats place excessive force on the sacroiliac (SI) joint and the knees. We all know that the sacroiliac joint is affected by pregnancy. Many women experience low back pain as a result of the laxity in this joint during pregnancy. Why place unnecessary force on an already stressed and vulnerable joint? Do you own a Resistaball, or other stability ball? Regular squats done with the ball between your back and the wall are an excellent choice. Make sure that your feet are a little more than shoulder width apart and your knees are facing forward. Do not put your feet way out in front of your shoulders when squatting. Make sure that the glutes track under the ball as well.

Erica
 
Angie,

Just don't overdo it. There are some parts that you'll need to just skip over(leg presses, explosive plie squats, explosive lunges and the Glute and Hamstring Tucks on high step with ankle weights ) but I found them to be the perfect time to rest and get some water before moving on.

Once again, Good luck with everything.
 
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