Ab crunches during pregnancy?

Julia - posted on 02/01/2010

I was in the Army with both of my pregnancies. I did PT (physical training) every morning with my second daughter, the PT was run by medical personnel and this is what we did.

In the first trimester you can do sit ups and crunches as long as it doesn't start to hurt. When it starts to hurt that is when you stop.

During the second and third trimester try to do alternate ab exercises. Google pregnancy ab exercises and that should show you some stuff that will be safe for you and the baby to do.

Here is a quick search I did and came up with this website:

http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/pregn...

Also you shouldn't immediately start doing crunches right away after giving birth. There are some post natal ab workouts that you can find on the internet as well. Your doc should give you the go ahead to start a workout routine at your 6 week check up

Melissa - posted on 02/01/2010

I saw that you don't like yoga, however, a couple forms are great for the tummy and nice for when you do get big. Sun Salutation, Half-Moon and the Standing Palm. You hold the poses for 2 min each.
Something to think of about yoga thou... It's great to do with the little ones. My two yr old does yoga with me in the mornings. It's a great way to get them to love taking care of their bodies.

Katherine - posted on 02/01/2010

No worries! I have a three year old and an 18 month old that love to try and button mash on my computer all the time - I understand!

Meghann - posted on 02/01/2010

I apologize for the horrendous spelling - my 2 year old was throwing a fit and I wasn't watching what I was typing ;-)

Katherine - posted on 02/01/2010

Thanks a bunch, Meghann!

Meghann - posted on 02/01/2010

Curches are safe provided you don't have supine hypotension or at risk for linea alba diastasis (the tearing of the linea alba.) Later in pregnancy you can do crunches, plevic tilts, etc side-lying to take the pressure off the abdominal aorta. I did that up to 6 hours before labor and had no problems at all (I'm 5'2 and 100 lbs normally, so I was all baby in front with no diastasis issues)

Katherine - posted on 02/01/2010

I find yoga very boring, I much prefer something fast paced, which is why I do more intensive workouts. I'm not looking for workout ideas here, I'm looking for advice about the safety of ab crunches during pregnancy. Thoughts?

Stephanie - posted on 02/01/2010

Yoga for Mommies is great! Walking is the best I tho, next time I get pregnant I'm getting a thigh master, cus I got one look at those thunder thighs in a pic and almost stopped eating haha. You can do lots of arm work outs, 8 min arms is great. My aunt did low abdominal crunches(you don't come up as far) and her belly was amazing looking after she had her boys!

Jennifer - posted on 02/01/2010

I walked every day or exercised on the elliptical machine. Many women enjoy yoga during pregnancy but I didn't. If you are down on the floor - make sure you can get up! LOL Stretching exercises, especially my calves, helped prevent leg cramps at night.