Sit-Ups while pregnant?

jamahone

Has anyone asked thier doctor if they could do crunches while pregnant.  I want to keep my abs in the best shape I can to help get back to my pre-prego body fast. I'm in a wedding in the Dominican Republic two months after baby is born and I will be living in a bathing suit. I don't go to the doc until next week.  I'll be asking him forsure nextweek but in the meantime I would like to know what others have heard.

spursgirl10

I've heard nothing that requires you to lay on your back in the 2nd trimester.  But I haven't specifically asked my doctor that since ab work just doesn't seem like something I could do with my belly.  I can barely get up off the couch sometimes.  LOL. 

kcisthebombdotcom

Yes you can.

KylieNic

I wouldn't do sit-ups while pregnant. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that it's not the "not recommended" exercises because you're on your back. I think the best thing you could do to get back in shape would be to breast feed. It burns a ton of calories to breast feed and helps get your uterus back to it's normal size faster.

Hyfagal

That's a negative. Not to mention I'm not sure how I'd even do one now. I feel like I'm crushing her when I lean down. I can't imagine a full crunch or sit up.

RayRay007

Ya, no sit-ups, but there are all sorts of other ab exercises that you can do. Several pregnancy books, and a lot of websites, have examples.

BrittRMere

From what I've heard/ read it's not the best idea... Plus, I'm not even sure by the time you get to 20+ weeks you'll want to try. It's hard to sit up in bed sometimes without rolling to the side first.

Maybe you could try doing other work outs (arms with small free weights, etc...) while sitting on an exercise ball. That way you still work on your core balance and strength without putting any unneeded stress on your stomach/ back. You could even just sit on while while you're watching TV.  

elfgirl11

I refrained in the first tri b/c I kept reading about diastatis recti, but my doctor was pretty adamant that I was in awesome shape and should keep my core strength up...that if I were to get DR it would be because of stretching, not contracting the muscles.....

all of my videos specific to pregnancy have mods for using pillows behind the back for certain moves....which actually slows me down.

in the end I try to abide by this list:

 https://www.pilates-pro.com/pilates-pro/2008/8/18/pilates-and-pregnancy-safe-ab-exercises.html

chaase02

I will be 19 weeks this Sun, and I take private pilate lessons every week. We still do crunches, leg lifts, side crunches, plank and I do a ton of stuff on the reforming machine which requires me to balance, and all of this is on my back. My doctor told me that all of this is fine, and my body will let me know when it's time to stop a certain excerise due to pregnancy. You just don't want to do the hardcore crunches were you are flying up and down. Also as far as laying on my back, she said with pilates you are always doing some kind of movement, so it's when you are laying there as if you were sleeping that you shouldn't be on your back. If that makes sense. My pilates instructor plans on changing our workout to more deep stretching and preparing my body for childbirth as I come closer to the 3rd tri. Hope this sheds some light, also just always ask your doctor.

csalagi

Be sure to check with your doc specifically, but I've been told you actually CAN do them just as long as you are not flat on your back.  Try doing a variation of them on an exercise ball.  You can also try planks - they are a great ab workout while pregnant and totally safe.

As you get further along/bigger though, it might be best to let up a bit on the ab workouts.  First, they will probably get uncomfortable/more difficult to do with a growing belly, and second, it might end up making your abs so tight that it becomes more sore as your belly expands underneath your ab muscles.  This doesn't happen with everyone, but it definitely happened to me.  Because of having tight, flat abs it hurt a TON when my belly started expanding in the beginning.

AshasaurusRex

I do crunches on my big stability ball so that I'm leaning back but not flat on my back. You can also sit on a chair and pull your knees up to your chest, the pilates 100 is a good one, and the plank pose is awesome and will keep your entire core strong. Good luck!

KelleyBelly11

I have a personal trainer and he has me do them on a stability ball. I'm starting to get to the point where I don't move very much though. Tummy is in the way. As long as you are flexing the muscles you are working them out. Remember... don't over do it. Listen to your body. 

radak

kdodge423:

While I wasn't told to avoid them specifically, I was told to avoid things that put direct pressure on my abdomen and require being flat on my back. Sit ups and crunches do both.

 

My Dr told me the same thing, including squats because they put pressure on my abdomen.  My Dr. is ripped, she runs marathons and works out regularly so I am going to listen to her.