With your practitioner's okay, it's safe to exercise your abs throughout your entire pregnancy with the proper modifications. In fact, strengthening your abs when you're expecting supports your pelvic organs as your baby bump gets bigger.
However, doing sit-ups or crunches while pregnant is probably not a good idea. ACE-certified fitness trainer Caitlin Sacasas explains that after the first trimester, or after you begin to have a noticeable uterine growth, it's best to avoid these core exercises.
Sit-ups and crunches are safe in the first trimester, but it's best to avoid supine exercises (anything where you lie on your back) once you hit the second trimester. Lying flat on your back in the second trimester and beyond can lower your blood pressure and make you dizzy.
Side plank: Side planks are safe throughout each trimester of pregnancy. They are a great way to strengthen your core and do not increase your risk of diastasis recti. Lie on your right side, in a straight line from head to feet, resting on your forearm. Your elbow should be directly under your shoulder.
Higher impact movements (like the jumping in/out and up portions of a burpee) can put more pressure on your pelvic floor which is already a bit vulnerable in pregnancy. Burpees also require core strength which is great, but it can place some strain on your abdominal muscles if pressure isn't managed well.
In pregnancy they also support your growing baby and uterus. The abdominal muscles and ligaments stretch throughout pregnancy under the influence of the hormones Progesterone and Relaxin. The Rectus Abdominus muscles pass from the ribs and breastbone to the pubic bones.
Hip thrusts are arguably one of the best glute activation exercises you can do. They're great for any level of exercise experience too, making pregnancy a great time to start working on them even if you've never done them before.
RUSSIAN TWISTS: Abdominal exercises that require lying on your back are discouraged, but that doesn't mean all abdominal exercises should be skipped! The Russian Twist is not recommended after the first trimester.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests that pregnant women avoid many movements that are typical in HIIT workouts — including jumping, jarring motions or quick changes in direction — since they could strain your joints and increase your risk of injury during pregnancy.
Now, to answer the “are core exercises safe in pregnancy?” question, the short answer is YES! Although there are some exercises that may not be the most appropriate exercises to do at a certain point in pregnancy, there are many exercises that can be good options.
The five core strengthening exercises are (1) opposite arm/leg raise, (2) can-can, (3) modified V-sit on a bench or the floor, (4) seated side bends with a band, and (5) standing pelvic tilts. Begin by performing 10-12 reps and work up to 3 sets a few times a week.
A 2015 study published in the journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found downward-facing dog is safe to practise during pregnancy for women who have no health or pregnancy complications.
After six weeks of cardio, the fitness routine should change to interval training: 20 minutes of cardio, followed by muscle work of 16 to 20 reps light weightlifting, then switching back and forth between cardio and weightlifting for the duration of the workout," he said.
For most normal-weight pregnant women, the right amount of calories is: About 1,800 calories per day during the first trimester. About 2,200 calories per day during the second trimester. About 2,400 calories per day during the third trimester.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
It is during this first trimester that the fetus is most susceptible to damage from substances, like alcohol, drugs and certain medicines, and illnesses, like rubella (German measles). During the first trimester, your body and your baby's body are changing rapidly.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists resistance exercise, including lifting weights, as safe during pregnancy. 1 Experts agree, so long as you first clear it with your healthcare provider and are not experiencing any pregnancy-related health conditions.