The stereotype that a pregnant woman is a “crystal vase” is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Modern expectant mothers lead a fairly active lifestyle, many of them continue physical training, which they began even before the moment of conception. But still, sometimes some people have doubts about whether pregnant women can do fitness, whether this will harm the course of pregnancy and the baby? Let's consider how safe fitness is for pregnant women, and what exercises are recommended for women during this period.
Experts say that if pregnancy is proceeding normally, there are no pathologies, then there is no need to give up physical activity. On the contrary, there are many positive effects of exercising during pregnancy. Firstly, regular moderate physical activity improves the functioning of the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems, metabolism in the body, and contributes to a successful pregnancy. Secondly, physical exercise increases the endurance of the female body, preparing it for childbirth. And thirdly, thanks to fitness, you can reduce the negative consequences of pregnancy, such as stretch marks, sagging abdomen after childbirth.
However, a prerequisite for starting fitness classes during pregnancy is to consult a doctor. The specialist will determine whether there are any contraindications to such physical activity and can give advice on which exercises are best excluded and which, on the contrary, should be included in the complex for the expectant mother.
You can study in special groups for pregnant women or on your own at home. When creating a home fitness routine, it is important to take into account the trimester of pregnancy. Doctors call the second trimester the safest period, although if there are no contraindications, you can exercise at any time.
It is important to follow some rules when exercising during pregnancy:
Pregnant women are recommended to purchase a special ball for physical exercise - a fitball, which allows you to gently regulate the load, avoiding overexertion. If you don’t have a fitball, you can use an ottoman or a chair.
Here is an approximate set of home fitness exercises for pregnant women in the 1st trimester:
Starting from the second trimester, classes pay more attention to breathing.
An approximate set of fitness exercises in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy:
Fitness exercises in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy are primarily aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, which play an important role in the birth process.
An approximate set of exercises:
Fitness for pregnant women can be a great way to train muscles, relax tired parts of the body, and prepare for childbirth. In addition, regular exercise will leave no chance for a bad mood.
An active, mobile lifestyle during pregnancy is the key to excellent health. Physical exercise makes it possible to stay fit, invigorates and gives strength, and improves psychological well-being. Easy workouts necessary throughout pregnancy, but the most comfortable period for their implementation is the second trimester.
Period of time from the fourth to the sixth month the safest and most favorable for sports activities. The body has already become accustomed to the new state, the constant nausea has disappeared, more strength has appeared, and hormonal levels have stabilized.
Now is the time to start preparing for childbirth through exercise. Easy daily workouts will help avoid many problems:
Regular exercise during pregnancy allows you to quickly get back into shape after childbirth and lose extra pounds.
Select exercises it is necessary individually for each woman, taking into account all the characteristics of pregnancy and her general condition.
Maximum occupation should last no more than 30 minutes; throughout the entire workout, the expectant mother should monitor her well-being.
Not all pregnant women are allowed to exercise. There are some factors that make training should be postponed until after birth:
Avoid exercising if you feel unwell. Listen not only to recommendations, but also to your own feelings.
In the second trimester physical activity is prohibited, during which it is required:
As the abdomen grows, the center of gravity of the body shifts, and the functioning of the vestibular apparatus is disrupted. The expectant mother becomes unstable and clumsy, dancing and body balance exercises are inappropriate during this period.
Copious discharge of unknown etiology from the genital tract is a contraindication to gymnastics. From week 13 you will have to forget about extreme sports, because now you are responsible not only for your life, but also for the development of the future baby.
The main requirement is to perform the entire range of movements with pleasure and in a good mood. Classes should be fun. Don't force yourself to study through force, if you don’t want to move actively, it’s better to postpone the workout until later or the next day.
Remember, all movements must be smooth and slow, no sharpness when turning. Lifting heavy equipment is also now prohibited. Squats, swings of arms and legs, stretching are performed slowly, with a long rest between approaches.
When exercising in the second trimester, do the following requirements.
Like any set of exercises, a lesson for pregnant women begins with a warm-up.
Exercise 1
Raise your arms up and lightly stretch your whole body behind them. At this time, you can slightly move your body to the left, then to the right. All movements are made smoothly and slowly. Repeat 3 times and take a short break.
Exercise 2
Sit on a hard surface, it should be hard. Cross your legs in front of you. This pose is called “Turkish”. The back should be level, the spine straight.
Make smooth turns with your head, add body turns to them. Your arms should also work at this time - spread them to the sides and make rotational movements, starting from the hand and ending with the shoulders. Repeat 10 times, then rest for 30-60 seconds.
As you warm up, visualize your skin stretching, becoming elastic and firm.
After the preparatory exercises, proceed to the main exercises for different muscle groups. The following exercises are designed to strengthen the chest muscles in order to at least maintain some of its shape.
Exercise 3
In a sitting position, place your open palms against each other. Elbows should be at the level of the pectoral muscles. Alternately press one hand onto the other. The movement is reminiscent of squeezing juice from a citrus fruit. Performs 10 times without stopping. You can do several approaches during a session.
Exercise 4
Surely, you have seen the cartoon “The Little Mermaid” more than once, and to complete the next exercise you will have to spend a little time in her role.
Sit on your thigh, bend your legs slightly forward. Place your arm along your body and lean on it. The second arm extends upward, moves slightly to the side and does not drop down sharply. Then the side changes to the opposite, and the movements are repeated - 10 swings for each hand.
Exercise 5
Don't forget about the oblique abdominal muscles - there is something for them too.
Lie on your side. Place your arms extended forward on top of each other. While slowly rotating your body, move your top arm as far as 180 degrees. Return to the starting position. You need to repeat 10 times for each side.
Exercise 6
Physical tasks for preparing the muscles of the perineum are of great importance. A fitball will help a lot with this.
Sit on a large rubber ball with your hips as far apart as possible. We hold for a few seconds until a slight tension is felt, and bring them together.
The pelvis and perineum should be completely relaxed when moving the hips back, and tightened when returning to the starting position. This improves blood flow to the pelvic organs.
Exercise 7
Pay attention to your back. Get on all fours with your feet and hands shoulder-width apart. This pose is called “cat pose.” The entrance is made - bend your back, exhaling - arch it as much as possible. The head should practically touch the floor. Performed 10-15 times, possibly in several approaches.
Exercise 8
Exercise for the feet is also very important in the second trimester, when the legs begin to get more and more tired from long walking.
Sit on the fitball. Spread your legs hip-width apart. Lay out a ribbon or scarf made of thin material in front of you. Use your toes to finger the fabric, trying to get from one end to the other. Do 3-6 times alternately for each leg.
Exercise 9
Don't forget about breathing! During the birth process, breathing exercises will be of great benefit to you. With their help you can reduce pain and relax.
Sit upright, your back should be straight. Place your right hand on your stomach, the other on your chest. Take deep breaths in and out through your nose. As you inhale, the chest should remain motionless and the stomach should rise. Then change tactics - let the chest rise, but the abdominal cavity does not move.
Exercise 10
After each exercise performed, do a light relaxing activity.
Sit on the floor, bend your legs under you so that your buttocks rest on them. Spread your knees slightly so as not to put pressure on your tummy - this way it will fit between them. Slowly lean forward, try to touch your forehead to the floor. Repeat 3 to 5 times. These movements will relieve tension from the spine and relax all muscle groups.
The exercises we have given are not the only ones of their kind. The choice of exercises for home fitness is completely in your hands! Exercise in a good mood by turning on your favorite music. Open the windows and let more fresh air and light into your room.
We invite you to look at three different sets of exercises for the second trimester, developed by a master trainer of the highest category. It is safe for all pregnant women who have no contraindications.
Did you exercise during pregnancy? Which complex did you choose for yourself? Was it an independent choice or a doctor's advice? Share your experience with us workouts in the second trimester of pregnancy!
They differ in the nature and intensity of the loads. In order to feel good during pregnancy and not lose good shape, you need to do gymnastics. There is a specially developed version by sports trainers and gynecologists by trimester.
The most dangerous period for embryo development is the first trimester (the first 14 weeks). Therefore, loads should be limited during this period. You can't pump up your abs. Breathing exercises and some hip training are allowed.
So, here are the allowed exercises in the first trimester.
The second trimester of pregnancy is the best period for doing physical activity, as it is the safest period during the entire pregnancy. The threat of miscarriage is now minimal.
A large concentration of exercises is now in the pelvic area. If you do them constantly, you can protect yourself from such an unpleasant phenomenon as urinary incontinence. This is especially true for women over 35 years of age.
You should not do exercises that involve stress on one leg. It is not recommended to exercise while lying on your back, as this can compress the vena cava and cause a lack of oxygen in the child. Try to do the exercises on your side.
The belly is getting bigger. Childbirth is getting closer and closer. Doing even the most basic exercises is already difficult. Therefore, it is worth using a fitball specially designed for pregnant women.
It is worth remembering that exercise in the third trimester can tone the uterus. If this happens, then you should limit yourself to breathing exercises.
Also, if you have medical contraindications, then exercises for pregnant women cannot be performed. These are such as:
Fitness for pregnant women, as mentioned earlier, includes and. If you learn to breathe correctly during pregnancy, you can reduce your pain during childbirth.
Important condition: When doing breathing exercises, you cannot hold your breath, otherwise the child will get hypoxia. The duration of the exercises is about half an hour.
Reading time: 12 minutes
If you don’t want to lose your fitness even during pregnancy, then you will probably like the Prenatal Workouts series from the BodyFit by Amy YouTube channel. We offer you 10 effective workouts for pregnant women at home that will help you stay slim throughout the nine months.
Amy created Prenatal Workouts while she was pregnant, so she experienced all the videos offered personally. The trainer has selected accessible and safe exercises that are suitable for any trimester of pregnancy. There is no calendar of classes, you can combine videos as you wish.
Before starting pregnancy exercises, be sure to consult your doctor. If you feel unwell or feel discomfort during exercise, stop exercising. Amy suggests very gentle programs, but your body may respond differently to stress. Don't be afraid to skip exercises or stop your workout if necessary. Also try to drink more water during exercise and do not exercise on an empty stomach.
An easy cardio workout for pregnant women, Prenatal Cardio Workout includes simple exercises to raise your heart rate and burn fat. Basically, these are a variety of steps with the active involvement of the muscles of the arms and body. Amy also prepared some squats, lunges and light jumps. The program is also perfect as a charger.
This workout for pregnant women helps strengthen your back muscles and. The first half of the exercise is done standing (bending to the side with dumbbells), the second half is on the mat. Leg raises and table pose await you. The exercise is not difficult, but it is better to do it only if you already had training experience before pregnancy.
Strength training for pregnant women Prenatal Strength Workout will help you strengthen your body muscles, work on problem areas and improve your body quality. You'll perform classic dumbbell exercises for your upper and lower body. The last 5 minutes are spent on the mat. The load can be adjusted by weight.
In this pregnancy workout, Amy includes effective Pilates exercises to tone your core, hips, and thighs. The training takes place entirely on the floor. You will find exercises on all fours, side planks, leg raises while lying on your side, and abdominal exercises on your back.
This aerobic workout for pregnant women at home will especially appeal to kickboxing fans. You will find various punches and kicks at a gentle pace, squats, lunges, and raising your knees to your stomach. The program is a little more active than the Prenatal Cardio Workout, but absolutely anyone can handle it.
To help you achieve a toned body and firm muscles, Amy offers another at-home pregnancy strength workout, but this time with a kettlebell. If you don't have a kettlebell, then you can replace it with a dumbbell or perform the exercises without weight (if you are a beginner). The following exercises await you: squats, standard and squats, biceps curls, shoulder presses, triceps presses, back rows, bend-overs, deadlifts with one leg raised back.
This workout for pregnant women at home does not require any additional equipment from you other than your own body weight. You will perform simple strength exercises with active involvement of the muscles of the upper and lower body. The workout can be complicated with dumbbells; the exercises allow this. For the second half of the lesson you will need a chair.
Regardless of whether you'll be actively exercising during pregnancy, taking a few minutes each day to stretch is essential. This will help you relax your muscles and relieve stress. Amy suggests two 7-minute stretches for pregnant women: one done without equipment, the other with a stability ball.
Without inventory:
With fitball:
Do you want to stay in a slim, toned body even during pregnancy? Try quality, safe and effective pregnancy workouts that are suitable for any fitness level. Stay slim and healthy for the entire nine months with the BodyFit by Amy YouTube channel.
Previously, pregnant women were told to maintain complete rest until the birth. However, now the answer to this question is simple and unambiguous - it is possible and even in most cases it is simply necessary. Today, fitness exercises while pregnant are welcome.
According to research, the benefits of moderate exercise have been proven. The main thing is that physical activity is properly designed during pregnancy. Classes should consist of gentle general strengthening and warm-up exercises.
Fitness at this time helps to keep the muscles of the chest, arms, and legs toned.. However, at this time it is not intended to make the figure ideal; this will have to be done after childbirth. Exercise during this period of time will help prepare the body for childbirth.
Fitness trainers develop various sets of exercises together with gynecologists so that the exercises are beneficial for the mother and fetus. The benefits of such exercises are as follows:
The benefits of exercise are as follows::
Fitness classes can harm a woman’s health if she puts heavy stress on her body, although she did not exercise before giving birth. Or she continues to exercise with the same loads as before giving birth. In such cases, deterioration of health, increased blood pressure, and muscle pain are possible.
If a mother does not follow safety precautions and overloads her body, she may be injured during exercise and thereby provoke uterine tone, the threat of termination of pregnancy, premature birth or miscarriage.
Failure to comply with the load during exercise can cause exacerbation of chronic diseases, which will negatively affect the fetus.
To protect herself and her baby, a mother should study the list of contraindications to rule out their presence. Contraindications are divided into absolute and relative. In their absence, the mother can calmly start doing fitness.
The absolute ones include:
Absolute contraindications exclude physical activity.
Relative contraindications include:
Important! If there are relative contraindications, then you can do fitness, but with some restrictions. Before exercising, you should definitely consult a doctor.
All contraindications that exist in the 2nd trimester also apply to the 3rd trimester. Also added to them:
If there are no contraindications, then Fitness classes during pregnancy are quite realistic and useful.
Pregnancy is not a disease, but a woman should be more careful during this period.
In addition to the restrictions of the second trimester, some more restrictions are added. Do not overuse stretching exercises, since a pregnant woman’s body contains a lot of the hormone relaxin, which helps to “spread” the bones as the baby passes through the birth canal, and therefore dislocations can occur.
Stretching the abdominal muscles is prohibited, as this can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Such exercises include:
You should also not do exercises that involve raising your arms up, as this leads to tone in the abdominal muscles. There is no need to do balance exercises because a pregnant woman's center of gravity shifts due to her enlarged belly, making it difficult for her to maintain balance.
During a normal pregnancy, fitness exercises can be done, but first it is better to consult a doctor. Only a personal gynecologist will be able to say for sure whether a woman can engage in fitness and how.
During training, you must monitor your heart rate, since during pregnancy it is higher than normal, and during exercise it can increase to 130. If this figure does not decrease within half an hour, then you need to stop exercising for a while and rest.
The expectant mother, after consulting with her doctor, should determine for herself an acceptable load and frequency of exercise. It is best to include in a set of exercises exercises that are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the back, legs, and abdominal wall. It is also necessary to do Kegel exercises, which will help during the birth process and will contribute to the rapid return of tone to the intimate muscles.
The set of exercises for the second trimester includes:
Fitball exercises are very useful:
Below is a visual video with a set of exercises for a pregnant woman in the first trimesters:
When exercising in the third trimester, you should do everything carefully and very carefully, as abdominal size and body weight have increased. A woman’s body prepares physiologically for childbirth, so fitness exercises should be aimed at helping it in this matter. The expectant mother should not be very active during this period, so flexibility and relaxation exercises are suitable at this stage. The best exercises for pregnant women in the third trimester are exercises on a fitball.
The set of exercises includes:
Long walks in the fresh air are very important during this period, as they normalize blood pressure and pulse, protect the fetus from hypoxia and help the mother stay in good shape.
Breathing exercises are also helpful:
By doing all the exercises correctly and setting aside a certain time for fitness every day, childbirth will be easy and without complications, and the baby will be born healthy and strong.
Below is a visual video about exercises in the third trimester:
And another video with breathing exercises for late pregnancy: