When to Stop Stomach Crunches/exercise

Hi A.!
Deff. check with your Dr. to see what they say but I own the local Stroller Strides and am both pre and post natal exercise certified. Abdominal exercises are safe through all nine months of a normal/healthy pregnancy. However after the first trimester it is not reccomended that you spend any time flat on your back so regular crunches are out. You can use a small exercise ball for crunches. Or do standing or sitting crunches. If you are feeling confident in your balance a stepper is okay. I would stay away from a tredmill though. Your balance and center of gravity change so much during your nine (ten) months that a tredmill can be tricky and if you trip you will fall right onto your beautiful growing tummy. You can also check out Stroller Strides on YouTube for a bunch of prenatal exercises and also feel free to come to one of my classes for a full body workout. Email me if you have any questions or comments at ____@____.com that helps!
K.

Hi A.! I am the owner/instructor Stroller Strides franchise in northwest FL, and we specialize in pre and postnatal fitness. You can do abdominal exercises throughout your pregnancy just not on your back after the second trimester. This is according to the ACOG guidelines. ACOG is the source most OB's use for pregnancy related safety guidelines. As far as baby weight, during pregnancy is not the time to lose weight but to maintain and control weight gain if your OB says to. Talk to your DR and get their thoughts on what is safe for you to gain at this point if you haven't done that already. Abdominal work is great during pregnancy as long as you do it correctly! You also need to look for a separation in your abs called diastasis recti where your abdominal muscles can separate for the growing baby there is a way to test for it by lying on your back and placing your fingers right between your abs above your belly button but below your rib cage. If the separation is more than three finger tips check with our doctor on how they would like for you to continue. Basically you wan to avoid certain exercises or modify them with a towel wrapped around you until the separation decreases. Sorry this is long winded. I hope this helps!
H. Wong
PS
I wouldn't say that a stepper is bad during pregnancy but you may be more prone to injury due to looser ligaments in your knees and joints so just be careful not to over extend your knees and use proper form.

I've just had 3 babies in 2 1/2 years, so I feel for you!! The common recommendation is to not do exercises flat on your back after the first trimester. However, I have had an exercise instructor (who taught pre- and post-natal classes) say that it's okay to do it for a limited amount of time, as long as you're "listening" to your body. I still avoided it just to be on the safe side, though. There are tons of ways to exercise the abdominals and core while sitting and standing.

I have been going to Jazzercise for the past 2 years, since my middle child was 4 weeks old, and it has been amazing. My third child is almost a year, and I actually weigh less than before all of my pregnancies! I think it's good to find a "program" like that where you can do a variety of aerobic, strength, and stretch exercises that you can modify as needed according to how you're feeling. I Jazzercised through my entire 3rd pregnancy, right up to the night I was in labor!! (I thought I'd better get one last class in before the baby came and I couldn't exercise for a few weeks!) I would definitely recommend Jazzercise to anyone, and it's very easy to vary your intensity and make your workout your own. Check out Jazzercise.com!!

Hi A.! I don't think it is safe to do any stomach exercises when pregnant..but I am not the authority on the issue. I am pregnant also..and was still lifting things that were a little too heavy..and tore the placenta. It was so scary...I had some blood..and just the thought of the "what ifs" b/c I was being careless were not worth it. I know..it stinks to think about losing your shape again..I am there with you! I don't know about a stepper. I am curious to read your other responses!
A. :)

Doing stomach crunches while you're pregnant kind of defeats the purpose. When you're pregnant your stomach muscles get stretched out. If you're worried about your midsection and want to see your abs again you need to burn the fat around them. Cardio is the only thing that is going to burn the fat, non aerobic ab excercises won't.

HI A.,
I'm four months pregnant with my second child after a nine year break. I was fit going into this pregnancy and still do kick boxing classes. Although I am fit and have a fitness trainer background, I still did my research. if you go to the ACOG website you will see some extensive information regarding all aspects of pregnancy. They will even dispell some myths. (This is a medical website) I plan to do crunches as long as I can and so long as my body tells me it feels okay. Listen to your body and your current fitness level and always ask your doctor. Don't be afraid to do your research first so you can talk to the doctor as a well informed patient.
Good luck and congratulations on staying fit. If you have more questions about fitness let me know.
S.

Hi A.! I work for a plastic surgeon and have a little insight on the all mighty "crunches".... DON'T DO THEM! As we become pregnant and our ab muscles make way for the growing fetus, they move from the center of our body to the sides. After preg. they don't completely come back to baseline, so the sit-up/crunches just make those muscles spread out more making the hard to lose tummy in the middle More noticeable! just a little tip.

Hi A.,
My name is L. and I'm a personal trainer and Mom of a 6 year old boy. I did crunches up until I delivered my son. As long as everything is OK
(according to your doctor), doing crunches or any excerises that you have been doing before you got pregnant and continued with up until now,is usually fine. If you feel uncomfortable doing an exercise due to the position of the baby, then just don't do it. As far as using a stepper, it's a balance thing. If you've been using a stepper since before you got pregnant it's probably OK. If you find yourself loosing your balance, there are many other ways you can keep up with your cardio.
Hope this helps. And remember, your doctor will always play it safe. He/she will most likely tell you not to do a step or other things you've been doing even if physically you are fine. Best rule of thumb...go by how you are feeling and just don't over do it.
L.

People give you all kinds of crazy advice when you're pregnant as I'm sure you know. One of the nurses in my ob's office told me I wasn't supposed to use a bicycle or climb stairs. I asked my doc and she just laughed and said these were fine as long as I felt fine.

I did yoga every day when I was pregnant, but I got a DVD for pregnant women because not all poses are advisable when you're pregnant. Besides that I ran until I was about 5 months pregnant and I started feeling too awkward and tired, so I switched to walking.

I would stay away from crunches when pregnant because you are not supposed to lay on your back too long when you start getting a big belly. Also, you could damage your muscles. You could do yoga or pilates, though, which would keep your muscles stretched and toned without too much damage. Just make sure to get something that is meant for pregnant women.

Good luck, and have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

*I wanted to add after reading some of the other posts that the reason you are not supposed to lay on your back for long periods is because you can decrease blood flow to the baby. The way you feel isn't always a good indication of the way the baby feels. Just because you feel fine doesn't mean that the baby's oxygen levels are normal.

I exercised throughout all 3 of my pregnancies and by about 4 months is when you should stop doing crunches. It has nothing to do with hurting the baby but has everything to do with lying on the floor with the weight of your belly being flat on your back. You can still exercise your abs without crunches by tightening (contracting) your abdominals. I'm not sure what you mean by "stepper." Do you mean a step bench for step aerobics? I did step aerobics throughout my pregnancies and it is the best way to get a good cardiovascular workout without strain on your body.

I would check with your OB, but I did Karate the entire pregnancy for my second. I was doing crunches, jumping jacks, stretches, kicks...you name it! I gained 41 lbs with my first and only 26 with my second. It was great and I actually felt better than I did the first time. I had more energy and was surprised that even with a big belly, I could still do a lot. Hope that helps.

J.

Yes, I, too did aerobic exercise throuout both of my pregnancies. In fact, I worked out until the day before my first was due. (He ended up being 2 weeks late though. Sigh!) I did abs all the way up until my 3rd trimester per my docs advice, due to the weight of the uterus/placenta on the uterine vessel. I did step aerobics all the way until the end. I did lower my step since I felt clumsy! I think that is the best thing to do during pregnancy. My weight fell off just after and I owe it to aerobics throughout both of my pregnancies. Good luck with yours. Check with your doc first about the exercise program, esp. if you are just starting out with it.