Weight training for pregnant women
Many people question whether weight training during pregnancy is something that should not be done, especially at high intensity. However, this taboo needs to be reconsidered, because every case is different.
Seek professional guidance
Of course, first and foremost, you need approval from your specialist doctor before doing ANY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY!!! After getting your doctor’s approval, seek guidance from a good professional!
As we know, when properly guided and performed, weight training is one of the activities that offers its participants the greatest level of safety.
Impacts of weight training
Weight training, because it does not involve strong impacts or physical collisions, may be a much better option for a mom-to-be than a direct-contact sport such as soccer or basketball. Imagine if, by some unfortunate chance, there were an impact to your abdominal area…
Statistics also show that the incidence of infertility, miscarriages, placental malformations, and congenital abnormalities among pregnant women who continued their physical activities, sometimes at high intensity, is no higher than among sedentary pregnant women.
Studies show the benefits
Two studies found that pregnant women who exercised at high intensity experienced more benefits than those who trained at low intensity.
Those who exercised more vigorously were able to reduce labor time by up to 85% and had lighter babies (healthy babies—with less body fat) (Bell et al., 1995; Clapp et al., 1996).
Can pregnant women lift weights?
Yes, pregnant women can lift weights. Strengthening the abdominal and back muscles helps prevent the lower back pain that is common during pregnancy.
Strength training during pregnancy can also help keep weight gain within a healthy range.
According to some studies, weight training can help women with gestational diabetes manage their condition: one study showed that strength training can reduce the need for insulin therapy, while another found that it reduces the risk of having large babies, or macrosomic babies.
Many people question whether weight training during pregnancy is something that should not be done, especially at high intensity. However, this taboo needs to be reconsidered, because every case is different.
That’s why you should always seek guidance from a health professional to ensure that weight training for pregnant women is done safely and does not put the pregnancy at risk!
