What abs/core exercises are safe in 2nd/3rd tri?

Tigerlily01

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I really want to keep my abs and core in shape, I figure it'll probably help me feel better later into my pregnancy and during labor. My OB agreed that doing core workouts was encouraged in 2nd tri, just to avoid doing stuff on my back, and to be careful so my abs don't separate (especially in 3rd tri).

But she wasn't too specific on what I CAN do, so now I'm confused. Does anyone know what abs/core exercises are ok to do? I tried googling, but all the info is conflicting, like some sites say to do planks, and others say definitely don't do them, etc. Has anyone actually asked a physical therapist, doctor, pregnancy fitness instructor, etc and gotten a good answer on what to do?
 
From what I have gathered, anything you were doing before you can keep doing as long as it's not uncomfortable.

Go on youtube and search for pregnancy ab workouts, you'll find a ton of stuff.
 
Oo this is my thing!

I wouldn't do planks - they up the internal pressure a lot and so increase your risk of separation. If you were desperate,you could do them on an incline, but I don't think I would do them - now or for a good few months after the birth, until you have good enough stomach strength back.

Plan your workouts around about what your stomach has to do now, i.e. Get longer to accomodate your pelvis tilting forward, and you can't go far wrong... I actually stop my clients, and myself, doing specific stomach exercises, because I feel like everything just increases the pressure. Instead I use exercises to keep the muscles around my hips nice and mobile, and by using these full-body exercises, my stomach is getting involved and working plenty anyway. I think I'm rambling.

I'm doing lots of side lunges (although these will hurt if you have spd!), forward lunges, reverse lunges, half kneeling woodchops, squats, hands and knees renegade rows, one arm push presses, dead lifts, ytwl's... They will all give you good overall strength, stomach strength, and they encourage your body to keep mobile which is v important for birth, and while not shortening your stomach muscles - just keeping them strong and allowing them to accommodate your changing shape.

Does that help?

X
 
Oo this is my thing!

I wouldn't do planks - they up the internal pressure a lot and so increase your risk of separation. If you were desperate,you could do them on an incline, but I don't think I would do them - now or for a good few months after the birth, until you have good enough stomach strength back.

Plan your workouts around about what your stomach has to do now, i.e. Get longer to accomodate your pelvis tilting forward, and you can't go far wrong... I actually stop my clients, and myself, doing specific stomach exercises, because I feel like everything just increases the pressure. Instead I use exercises to keep the muscles around my hips nice and mobile, and by using these full-body exercises, my stomach is getting involved and working plenty anyway. I think I'm rambling.

I'm doing lots of side lunges (although these will hurt if you have spd!), forward lunges, reverse lunges, half kneeling woodchops, squats, hands and knees renegade rows, one arm push presses, dead lifts, ytwl's... They will all give you good overall strength, stomach strength, and they encourage your body to keep mobile which is v important for birth, and while not shortening your stomach muscles - just keeping them strong and allowing them to accommodate your changing shape.

Does that help?

X

How do you do ytw's with a bump?
 
[\QUOTE]

How do you do ytw's with a bump?[/QUOTE]

I do them in a hinged over position, sort of like at the bottom of a straight legged dead lift, like you'd do a bent over row...?

X
 
Crap, that wouldn't work for me!! Oh well will just have to hit the exercises big time post birth (well after a few months cos of section!!)
 
This site has some ideas for exercises for pregnant women. Ab exercises on a ball might work as long as the ball is stabilized so you don't fall off or seated

https://www.fitpregnancy.com/exercise
 
Hence the section?

Yeah knees or feet. Or you could use a band in a seated position and do rows like that?

Do you train at the minute?

X
 
I've just been nosing at your website.... Of course you train! You must be pretty damn fit and strong hey if you're a ninja basketballer?! X
 
Sorry tigerlily, I didn't mean to take over your thread x
 
Hence the section?

Yeah knees or feet. Or you could use a band in a seated position and do rows like that?

Do you train at the minute?

X

No section is due to previous emergency section.

Rows could work.

I used to train a lot but haven't done much since getting pregnant (well Dc really) as I play wheelchair basketball and can't really do that now!

(Sorry OP for hijacking slightly!)
 

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