lifting in pregnancy

[emmab]

I have just found out I am pregnant (YAY!!!!!!!) and wondered if any of you ladies have lifted during pregnancy. If so, what are some guidelines. And how did you modify your diets etc.

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God give me the strength to lift all I can, the humility to accept what I can't lift, the wisdom to know the difference, and the determination to close the gap!!!

 

[keiko]

Congrats! I don't see why you'd need to modify your diet any, other than upping your calcium intake. You're pretty small, as I recall, and so a 30 pound weight gain would probably be the max for you. You can certainly continue to eat clean and often.

Obviously you're not going to use a fat burner, and if you have prenatal vitamins, you should be all set without additional supplementation.

I would think (this is not from my personal experience, so I could be all wet) that the only danger with lifting would be to avoid very heavy lower body work (I'd think heavy squatting could be a problem) and not do weighted crunches etc.

During pregnancy your ligaments will loosen up, and so your form will have to be perfect to avoid any strains.

 

[Little Girl]

CONGRATS!!
There's a girl at my gym who was still lifting a week before she gave birth. She came back 3 weeks after the baby came. Two months after, she was wearing her little bra tops. I talked to my doctor about that and he told me that it's not recommended to START lifting when you're pregnant, but there's nothing about keep lifting when you are carrying a baby. The only thing that is gonna change is your center of gravity. (of course!!)
When I'll be pregnant I will keep lifting for sure, it's the best way to stay in shape after the baby!

GOOD LUCK!
LG

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I don't believe in luck... Only work can bring us to reach the top!!

 

[vixenbabe]

I stayed active during my 9 months carrying our little girl.I was lucky to be able to do that until my seventh month. Had some complications til then...

I took it VERY easy at the gym. Brianna is our first, and only child, so I was a bit OVER cautious.I did not do any major lifting but pretty much did a revised workout.

Does your gym have a program for expecting mom's? I'd check that out,some do offer those type of programs, mine did not but some do!

Eat healthy, eat small meals a lot during the day. Keep active! Keep in mind that anything over 25 lbs is HARDER TO TAKE OFF after you deliver.

I wish I could buy the pre-natal vitamins they gave you..THOSE BABIES ARE GREAT!

Good luck and enjoy every moment ! Before you know it, the baby will be four years old, like mine, and you'll wonder where the time went.

 

[MS]

Pregnant women are the ultimate bodybuilders when you consider they only have 9 months to build a whole new body! So you should definitely continue eating like a bodybuilder. Just make sure you're getting plenty of essential fats in your meals. And no reason to stop the weight training. The weight training will help you in many respects both during your pregnancy and afterwards. Oh, and congrats!

 

[Fennec]

Please be very cautious and talk to your doctor about whether or not to lift during your pregnancy.

I had already had one healthy child, when I got pregnant a second time. I was working as a dog groomer at the time, and I lifted a pretty big Irish Setter into the bathtub to bathe it; when I did, I started bleeding heavily. It stopped pretty soon, but two or three weeks later, I miscarried.

I had zero exercise in my life at the time that happened, and who knows, maybe it was unrelated to picking the big dog up, but I've always thought that was the cause.

For people who lift weights regularly, there might be no danger at all. I know there are plenty of examples people can point to where "they knew someone who..." (jogged until the day they delivered, lifted weights, etc.) But please talk to your doctor, and consider what he/she says when you decide what you want to do. Don't take someone's word for it that you don't know, who is posting anonymously on a discussion board. Take the person's word for it who might be sued in a medical malpractice suit if they give you the wrong advice. Just remember that the weights will still be there for you after you have the baby.

Take care,
Fennec

 

[emmab]

thanks for the replies, and I will check with both my doctor and the gym staff (the owner is a doctor too). You are right Fennec that the weights will be there in 9 months time. I think I will feel safer doing arm/chest work than legs/abs, which is good, cos my upper body is lagging..who knows, by the time the little one arrives I might be needing to get my legs to catch up!!!

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God give me the strength to lift all I can, the humility to accept what I can't lift, the wisdom to know the difference, and the determination to close the gap!!!

 

[hotmama]

CONGRATS! This is such an exciting time for you, enjoy every incredible second. I have a 7 month old, and I continued on my regular training until the begining of the second trimester. You should avoid anything that is lying flat on your back, as well as leg press after your 1st trimester.I gained 50! and lost it all plus 15, and I swear it was because I: 1. Continued to exercise 3-4 times a week throughout 2. Was in great shape prior and 3. Had an 11.2 pound child via c-section!
As far as diet, try to eat as close to your normal diet (non competition obviously) add the calcium, and eat as many green vegetables and OJ as you can. The first trimester is very important in the develpoment of your little one, although he/she is so tiny. I trained up until the day I had my c-section, I squatted 135 for 2 sets of 8, and had to have a scheduled c-section. Of course, I was doing close to double that prior to getting pregnant . If you are tired, rest. If you don't want to lift, walk and stretch. If you don't want to do anything, try to find a pre-natal swimming class, yoga, etc. The support is amazing that you'll receive from the other women. I loved being pregnant, it is such an AWESOME thing. Creating another life is a huge responsibility! Take care of yourself, and remember that some days are harder than others. Listen to your body, DO NOT be afraid to ask questions about anything and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Good Luck and be well!
Oh, by the way, the reason I squatted so much is because my OB said one of his patients squatted heavy and went into labor that afternoon. I do not recc this unless you are overdue, strong, and have a spot.

 

[Fennec]

Good! It sounds like you are in good hands. (I'm such a worry wart...)

And by the way, I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Fennec

[This message has been edited by Fennec (edited April 26, 2001).]

 

[emmab]

bump again

i spoke to the gym staff today and they said anything but less intensity, and no lying down after 5 months. Also, no above the head lifting or jerk moves ie clean and press. Agree???

 

[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!!