Is this core exercise still safe to do? We spoke to Charlie Barker, founder of pre and postnatal online fitness studio, Bumps and Burpees to find out.
Sit-ups are a go-to exercise for strengthening our core muscles, but can you still do them when you’re“It’s important to clarify that whilst sit-ups are not necessarily the best thing to do in pregnancy they are "safe", they pose no actual threat to you or your baby,” says Charlie Barker, founder of pre and postnatal online fitness studio,Although classed as ‘safe’ Charlie says there are many reasons why sits up may not be recommended during pregnancy: “Sit-ups or crunches largely...
“Instead we want to work on strengthening our deep core muscles that work to stabilise us as our bump grows and our posture changes. We do this through using our breath effectively during other exercises, off-setting our balance in things like lunges, so our core has to kick in to keep us upright, adapted planks and plenty more movements that will be far more effective in keeping our core strong throughout this time.
"It can be walking the dog, playing with your kids in the park, swimming... there are all sorts of ways you can remain active," she says. "There are a huge number of benefits, not least of all that staying strong and fit can offset some of pregnancy's unwanted symptoms such as pelvic girdle pain, back ache, nausea and many more but also make us feel good with the release of endorphins and getting fresh air.
Please note that every woman will experience pregnancy differently so some of these may not feel good for you to do and you should always listen to your body when following any exercise advice. There are many ways for us to keep our core strong and activated throughout pregnancy but these are some that you might find helpful to try.- as your bump starts to show, dropping your knees down in a plank can help you to manage the tension in your core.