Can you exercise your stomach muscles during pregnancy?
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How can you keep your stomach/abdominal muscles fit throughout pregnancy? Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, has some information.
Your question
I was told by my doctor after the fourth month to not do any stomach exercises on my back. I know there are exercises you can do for your stomach up to your due date that will not require you to be on your back. Could you please tell me what they are and how to do them? Thank you. - Gena in Villa Park, IL
The expert answers
Gena,
Actually, the recommendation is to avoid any exercise in a
back-lying position after the third month of pregnancy. That said,
you are correct in stating that you should continue exercising
your abdominal (stomach) muscles throughout your pregnancy. Here
are a couple of my favorite exercises:
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1. Start in a quadruped position (forearms and knees), exhale as you tighten the abs pulling the belly button in toward the backbone, inhale as you release.
2. You can work the obliques by starting in a side-lying position with knees bent and at a 45 degree angle, exhale as you lift the rib cage toward the hip bone, squeezing in the waist line, inhale as you lower.
You should also combine these exercises with pelvic floor or Kegel exercises to get maximum benefit.
Lisa :)
