(Disclaimer: This post is not intended as medical advice. Every situation and every pregnancy are different, so please consult your doctor for guidance.)
The biggest myth of all time that women cannot exercise during pregnancy.
When a woman gets pregnant., all of a sudden all the “Do’s” become “Don’ts”.
“Don’t move”
“Don’t drive”
“Don’t lift heavy groceries”
“Don’t Run”
“Don’t swim”
“Exercise?? Are you crazy? Hell No!”
So why not just tie her in bed for the next 9 months until she “safely” delivers her baby. Seriously?! Of course women should and must exercise during pregnancy. They could swim, do yoga and even CrossFit. “Crossfit you say?” Oh yes indeed.
Here are the answers to your questions on how to make your 9 Months Partner WOD with your baby an enjoyable safe one
What are the benefits of exercise during pregnancy?
When should I start? Do I need my doctor’s green light?
What CrossFit exercises can I do and how intense can they be?
Benefits of exercise during pregnancy
- Help reduce backaches, constipation, bloating, and swelling
- Boosts your energy and mood
- Improves your posture and your self-image
- Promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance
- Reduces stress and helps you sleep better
- Reduces pregnancy discomfort and prepares your body for labor
- It will make it easier for you to get back in shape after your baby is born.
- You’ll get a lot of positive attention from everyone at your box. They’ll support you and you’ll inspire them.
When should I start? Do I need my doctor’s green light?
You can start from your first trimester if you feel comfortable doing so and if your doctor gave you his/her approval. It is always recommended you consult your doctor before you start any workout routine and s/he will guide you on what to do and what not according to your case.
If you were physically active before you were pregnant, it is likely safe to remain active during pregnancy. But if you were NOT active before getting pregnant then it is NOT recommended to start a new workout routine your body is not used to before getting pregnant.
Your doctor will tell you to remain active, as long as it is comfortable and there are no other health conditions affecting you or the baby.
Guidelines to do CrossFit during pregnancy
When it comes to CrossFit, The most common doctor recommendation was to, “do whatever felt comfortable but not over exert or try to make any gains or PRs, because after all, the baby should be the body’s number one priority.”
Lets put some ground rules before we proceed:
- Limit potential falls
- Slow down
- Scale down
1. Limit potential falls
Always listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, faint, unusually exhausted, or nauseous, take a break. Always hydrate even you it’s not hot or you’re not thirsty. Don’t allow your core temperature to get too high.
2. Slow Down
Don’t go all out. Skip the high intensity until after you deliver.
Do not train to exhaustion because that will limit the baby’s oxygen supply.
Run and row until you can’t anymore and take break when you’re breathless.
3. Scale Down
Running/ Double Unders: You can row, power walk as long as you feel comfortable.
Thrusters/Squats/ wall balls: Don’t go below parallel. You can sit down on a box or a med ball and then stand up. You can press with a KB or a dumbbell
Pull ups: No kipping, you can do strict or ring rows instead.
GHD sit-ups/ Sit-ups /hollow rocks: You can do knees-to-elbows, hanging knee raise, reverse crunches or Planks.
Push-ups: You can do elevatedpush-ups on a box or against the wall.
Burpees: You can do No-push up burpees (belly doesn’t hit the ground). You can also place a pillow below your tummy on the floor.
Cleans and snatches: You can do the cleans and snatches from the hang position. You can also use dumbbells and kettlebells instead of barbells.
Bench press: You can do shoulder presses or elevated push-ups
Box Jumps: You can modify it to step ups on a stair step instead of box.
Rope climbs: You can substitute rope pull-ups beginner rope climbs. It is not worth the risk of falling
Handstand pushups: You can press or push press using a barbell, dumbbell or kettlebell.
Here’s a sample workout from The High-Performance Pregnancy, Crossfit Journal
Sample Workout: “Baby Nancy”
Advanced: 5 rounds Run or row 400m 15 overhead squats #45 bar
Intermediate: 4 rounds Run, row or walk 400m 15 overhead squats #25 bar
Beginner: 3 rounds Row or walk 200m 10 overhead squats #10 bar or PVC
Here’s another sample workout
Pregnancy chipper
60 Squats
50 sec Plank
40 Step ups
30 Lunges
20 Burpees
10 Push ups
Listen to your body and enjoy your ‘bumpy’ 9 Months Partner WOD 😉
