Abdominal Exercises

[krulci]

Hello ladies! This seems like such a silly question, but did any of you continue - or more particularly, start - abdominal exercises through pregnancy? At my 10 wk check up, my midwife commented on my abs still having a small gap between them, likely residual from my first pregnancy (DS weighed 9 lbs 13 oz, I think it's fair they spread! Lol). She suggested that I see a physical therapist or look up the exercises to close the gap online, but I am terrified to start anything new. Am I far enough into the first trimester that this would be a good time to start before they spread again and get worse? When did all of you (if you did) reintroduce exercise?

Thank you!

 

[Leinzlove]

I have no idea. But I'm not sure you should be working your Abs. I've heard you are only supposed to do the same exercises that you did prior to pregnancy.

I use Prenatal workout DVDs.

 

[krulci]

Hey Leinz! I've been thinking about it, and I'm just going to go to the physical therapist my midwife recommended... I've only ever used prenatal workouts, too, so I'm kind of lost on what's safe and what's not... How are you feeling, by the way? Still sick?

 

[Leinzlove]

Feeling much better, hun! Thank you! How about yourself? I'm sorry to see that you lost another baby!

Do what they tell you. I've just never heard of working abs during pregnancy. I have a hard time doing anything that involves my stomach.

 

[Nina83]

I learnt pilates a long time ago and learned about that gap.
If I remember correctly, you're not supposed to work on your abs until the gap closes. It will never close completely like before though, just won't be open.
Until then all the ab work in the world won't help.
I know my sister has a huge "hole" from her last pregnancies. She didn't wait much between any of them. (aka 5 pregnancies in 6 years!!!)

 

[AnonymousCAT]

Hey

I'm a physical therapist. There are definitely safe ab exercises to do during pregnancy to close the gap and prevent other problems like pelvic pain and stress incontinence. Definitely recommend following your midwives advice and seeing a therapist to walk you through everything. Good luck!

 

[krulci]

Feeling much better, hun! Thank you! How about yourself? I'm sorry to see that you lost another baby!

Do what they tell you. I've just never heard of working abs during pregnancy. I have a hard time doing anything that involves my stomach.

Doing better!! Finally moving past all of the nausea and first tri symptoms... Thank heavens!

I learnt pilates a long time ago and learned about that gap.
If I remember correctly, you're not supposed to work on your abs until the gap closes. It will never close completely like before though, just won't be open.
Until then all the ab work in the world won't help.
I know my sister has a huge "hole" from her last pregnancies. She didn't wait much between any of them. (aka 5 pregnancies in 6 years!!!)

Ha! What a lucky girl!! (I mean that... 5 kids in 6 years is my dream!) I know you can't close it up completely without surgery, and my midwife did say that it's "small"... I'm hoping she wasn't trying to spare my feelings.

Hey

I'm a physical therapist. There are definitely safe ab exercises to do during pregnancy to close the gap and prevent other problems like pelvic pain and stress incontinence. Definitely recommend following your midwives advice and seeing a therapist to walk you through everything. Good luck!

Thank you for responding!! I am definitely contacting the PT. In the meantime, do you know of any articles that I can read up on? I'm fairly lost to the whole topic... Just trying to play it safe.

 

[Leinzlove]

Good to see you! You need to stop in more often!