Avoid tummy excercises with new pregnancy altogether?

Danii&&Babii · October 2012

I gave birth to our daughter in June of this year and lost all my baby weight but kept the lil pooch belly that I have been trying to wean off here and there when I had time. I usually just stretch a lot and do some sit ups and sometimes work on the elliptical (but it's been abit). Anyway - I just got a bfp a few days ago but it's still very early and I won't be seeing the doc for another week or so. I really don't want to cause any damage (or miscarriage or anything) by excercising but I'm also scared I'll never get rid of this post-preggo pooch and then get another belly bump. Such a weird question I know but I was just curious what excercises, if any, anyone has done when in early pregnancy.

p.s.

I absolutley hate running so I won't do that lol.

Any suggestions appreciated

NavyPilotWife · October 2012

If you've already been doing some ab work, I'd continue doing various crunches and some planks --- just make sure you don't over do it. When I entered the second trimester, I stopped doing any ab work flat on my back. I'd stay on an incline or use an exercise ball for crunches. Standing ab work is another option, but I'd make sure you are near something to hold onto, as your balance can start to get a little off. I think core work during pregnancy is important. I had fairly easy recovery with DD1. I did ab work the entire time with DD2 and my recovery was even better.

JG362009 · October 2012

I did pretty vigorous ab workouts my entire two pregnancies and had no problems . . . . and a flat belly about 6 weeks after I delivered! So I'm glad I kept my ab and core strong.

brewcitybride · October 2012

Honestly, I would skip all ab work. You can still do cardio and strength training of arms/legs etc. to keep in shape, but you are going to get a big belly anyway while pregnant! I would save the focusing of the ab work for POST pregnancy. But that's just me! If you want to keep your core STRONG, which is a different goal than getting rid of a belly pooch, which to me doesn't matter since you are pregnant, there are some good prenatal yoga DVD's out there.

vlagrl29 · October 2012

brewcitybride:
Honestly, I would skip all ab work. You can still do cardio and strength training of arms/legs etc. to keep in shape, but you are going to get a big belly anyway while pregnant! I would save the focusing of the ab work for POST pregnancy. But that's just me! If you want to keep your core STRONG, which is a different goal than getting rid of a belly pooch, which to me doesn't matter since you are pregnant, there are some good prenatal yoga DVD's out there.

agree with this. why bother when you are going to keep the pooch for awhile. waste of time imo

IncogNeato · October 2012

Odds are that the pooch is fat not lack of muscle so doing ab work won't really do much for you until afterwards when you can reduce body fat.

I think, though, that things like planks are pretty safe all the way through.

tasiaceleste · October 2012

Abdominal work is NOT a waste of time, and you should absolutely continue to work your core THROUGHOUT your pregnancy.

After 20 weeks, no more crunches or supine (flat on your back) positions, but you can continue to do plank variations, pelvic tilts, and lots of standing abdominal work until you deliver. It will help you in labor and it will help you with recovery. A strong core will also protect your back (and reduce low-back soreness and fatigue) and can minimize sciatic pain.

ras26 · October 2012

tasiaceleste:
Abdominal work is NOT a waste of time, and you should absolutely continue to work your core THROUGHOUT your pregnancy.
After 20 weeks, no more crunches or supine (flat on your back) positions, but you can continue to do plank variations, pelvic tilts, and lots of standing abdominal work until you deliver. It will help you in labor and it will help you with recovery. A strong core will also protect your back (and reduce low-back soreness and fatigue) and can minimize sciatic pain.

I agree with this ^^^ 100%, but to the OP, doing ab work is not going to get rid of your belly pouch. A combination of a good diet and [cardio] exercise reduces fat, but you don't get to pick where it comes off.

dek3111 · October 2012

ras26:
tasiaceleste:

Abdominal work is NOT a waste of time, and you should absolutely continue to work your core THROUGHOUT your pregnancy.

After 20 weeks, no more crunches or supine (flat on your back) positions, but you can continue to do plank variations, pelvic tilts, and lots of standing abdominal work until you deliver. It will help you in labor and it will help you with recovery. A strong core will also protect your back (and reduce low-back soreness and fatigue) and can minimize sciatic pain.

I agree with this ^^^ 100%, but to the OP, doing ab work is not going to get rid of your belly pouch. A combination of a good diet and [cardio] exercise reduces fat, but you don't get to pick where it comes off.

True you can't pick where fat comes off but in general just doing cardio is not going to melt it off. Strength training builds muscle and the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. It took a long time for my husband to get this through my head but now I accept that it is the absolute physiological truth.

Angela814 · October 2012

One of the first things I did when I found out I was pg was look for information on ab exercises while pg. Basically I'm doing what I did before -leg lifts, torso rotation machine, and seated ab crunch machine. The ab crunch machine at my gym is a lot different from the usual (it does a lot of lower abs) so I've been comfortable still doing it. In my research I actually found out that traditional crunches aren't really great for your abs anyway. The article I read said they tend to encourage splitting of the muscle, but of course I can no longer find it. Anyway, I might go down on weight if I need to, but I'm hoping to just stay steady through my whole pg.

https://www.google.com/search?q=abdominl+exercises+while+pregnant&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

Angela814 · October 2012

ras26:
tasiaceleste:
Abdominal work is NOT a waste of time, and you should absolutely continue to work your core THROUGHOUT your pregnancy.
After 20 weeks, no more crunches or supine (flat on your back) positions, but you can continue to do plank variations, pelvic tilts, and lots of standing abdominal work until you deliver. It will help you in labor and it will help you with recovery. A strong core will also protect your back (and reduce low-back soreness and fatigue) and can minimize sciatic pain.
I agree with this ^^^ 100%, but to the OP, doing ab work is not going to get rid of your belly pouch. A combination of a good diet and [cardio] exercise reduces fat, but you don't get to pick where it comes off.

Agree. I don't think increasing or maintaining muscle strength is ever a waste of time. I have read that great abs are all about a clean diet (once you have the muscle strength and cardio in place).

dontgiveupnomatterwhat · October 2012

Good info from everyone! I have been riding the stationary bike and have been wondering about ab work as well...so this is super good stuff to know! Thank you so much for the post!!!!

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