lifting in pregnancy

[BigEasy]

Congrats!
My wife did high impact aerobics with our second and third pregnancies <full term twins!!> until delivery. She defiantly slowed down, but that was her bodies decision, not hers. Her doctor said that since she was doing when she got pregnant, no need to stop. He just asked her to be cautious and watch her heart-rate.

The gym owner asked her to stop two months before delivery of the twins, "because she was distracting to the other women in the class." HEHE! Anyway, she continued using THE FIRM tapes, weights, and step box at home every morning.

She was lifting during the fourth pregnancy and refused to believe she was even pregnant until the end of the third month. Lets see; irritable, nauseous first thing in the morning, tired by noon, mood swings, weight gain, increased appetite, increased bust size, NO PERIOD, et al. Hmmm, what could cause this? Her idea was it was just stress. HA!

Anyway, she kept up her routine but used the machines instead of freeweights. Also, she quit doing quite as much ab work after six months. Actually, she COULDN'T do ab work after six months. She quit the gym at 6.5 months, and you know what happens to men or women that go from 1.5 hrs, 4-5 days a week to -ZERO- don't you? 'Nuff said! That was her HARDEST delivery!

Now, 2.5 years later we are back in the gym making up for lost time with a vengeance! Been back a year and probably have another six months to go to get back to where we both left off two and a half years ago.

MORAL: Don't stop!!! Cut back, but DON'T STOP!!!

So much for the unexperienced male perspective.

BE

 

[w8liftinglady]

Ok-my experience as a mom of 3, a nurse for 17 years,and a weight lifter for 20.
1.keep up your cuurent level of fitness,don't increase it now.If you feel tired,rest.If you have energy,work out.Don't push yourself now.
2.Lifts that require a lot of intra-abdominall pressure(i.e.-squats,leg press,deads)-avoid.
3.after about the 6th month,your symphysis pubis(the cartilage that connects the pelvis at the front) will open,making it easy to hurt yourself with even easy squats and the like.Restrict yourself to machines for the lower bod after this point.
4.DON'T allow yourself to become too hot or dehydrated.This is the number one reason we see women in premature labor.Drink plenty,and do moderate cardio(treadmill,bike)
5.as your belly gets really big(like months 7,8,9)-eat a very very small meal,or consume a protein shake before your workout.You don't want a full belly when you are working out.
6.avoid laying flat on your back after about the 6th month.The pressure of the uterus on the vena cava and aorta can restrict blood flow to the baby and you.you can shift your weight as little as 20 degrees with a foam wedge and still do modified crunches.(don't hold your breath)
I know this is long,but as long as everything is progressing normally,you can keep a good level of fitness.Oxygen magazine had a wonderful issue on this very subject a couple of months ago.You might try to get a copy.
Congrats!!