It is generally well known among the fitness and medical professions, that exercising during and after pregnancy is beneficial for women. Some of the benefits include:

  • Increasing fitness levels to help cope with labour
  • Faster post-natal recovery
  • Management of healthy weight gain during pregnancy
  • Counteracting the postural changes that occur during the three trimesters
  • Reducing the risks of various conditions common during pregnancy such as varicose veins, constipation, lower back pain, diastasis recti, incontinence, sleep apnoea and many others
  • Psychological well being

These benefits are often overlooked by a pregnant client due to fear of causing damage to her unborn child if she were to exercise. This is especially so for women who may have previously had a miscarriage – a common concern as one in three pregnancies end in a miscarriage for a number of different medical reasons.

There is no reason why a pregnant client, who is already exercising and is fit and healthy with no known complications, cannot continue to exercise safely, with adjustments as the pregnancy progresses through the three trimesters.

The belief that clients who have never exercised before should not start an exercise programme during pregnancy is no longer valid. Exercise can still benefit these clients but they will start at a lower intensity and they may need to wait until the second trimester to begin the programme. In the meantime, they can still benefit from regular walking during the first trimester and in some cases low intensity swimming. The psychological benefits of exercising throughout pregnancy will only benefit the client during what is a very emotional journey.

All programmes prescribed for a pregnant client should include a cardiovascular element together with strengthening exercises for the following areas:

  • Pelvic Floor
  • Core
  • Postural muscles
  • Functional strength

In addition, various adaptations will have to be made to the programme as the pregnancy progresses to take into account diastasis recti, changes to the client’s centre of gravity and controversially supine hypertensive syndrome.

All fitness professionals that want to work with this specialist population will need to be aware of the fitness levels of their client, the physiological changes that occur during and after pregnancy and be able to adapt their programmes accordingly.

Learn how to plan and teach safe and effective antenatal and postnatal studio or gym sessions with our CYQ Award In Instructing Physical Activity For Ante/Post Natal Exercise