Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Fitness
    • Weight loss
    • Yoga
    • Diet
    • Healthy recipes
    • Weight training
    • Body-Mind-Soul
  • Beauty
    • Home Remedies
    • Hair Care
    • Hair Loss
    • Skin Care
    • Anti-ageing
    • Make-up
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Natural Remedies
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Women’s Health
    • Stress
    • Symptoms A-Z
    • Health A-Z
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Love & Sex
    • Love and Relationships
    • Sex Guide
    • Sex Queries
    • Contraception
    • Sex Positions
    • STDs
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Pregnancy Guide
    • Infertility
    • Conceiving
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Baby Care
    • Breastfeeding
    • Children’s Health
    • Children’s Nutrition
  • News
  • Galleries
    • Fitness
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Pregnancy
  • Videos
Home / Pregnancy / Lifting weights during pregnancy: Good or bad?

Lifting weights during pregnancy: Good or bad?

We speak to doctors and experts to find out if lifting weights during pregnancy is safe.

By: Agencies   | | Updated: February 17, 2014 11:05 am
Tags: Exercise during pregnancy  Pregnancy Fitness  Pregnant women  Women weight training  Women's health  

Lea-Ann EllisonLea-Ann Ellison, a 35-year-old bodybuilder from Los Angeles  sparked an online storm after posting photos of herself lifting heavy weights — with her due date just two weeks away.While some appeared to support her decision, including several who claimed to be doctors, others were horrified. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian had to be hospitalised during her pregnancy due to overexercising. Keeping these cases in mind, we spoke to doctors and fitness experts to find out the truth about exercising and lifting weights during pregnancy. 

Related Stories

  • Perimenopause can be unsettling: Know what to look out for
  • Late periods? 6 possible reasons behind this
  • Breast implants may come with some serious health risks: Know all about it

Expert advice

Dr Sudeshna Ray, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Jaslok Hospital, says, ‘Lifting weights are a good form of exercise to remain fit during pregnancy for those who are used to such activities majorly in her pre-pregnancy days. Starting this as a form of exercise in pregnancy is advisable only with very low weights, with proper breathing exercises. Also, one should not lift weights in supine position and not hold your breath. (Read: Women and weight training)

‘This woman must be used to this sport and has maintained the same throughout the pregnancy and hence carried it out without side-effects. However, it is strongly recommended against such an endeavour if a woman is not used to it.’

Dr Sudeshna adds, ‘Exercise during pregnancy is always encouraged, the goal of which should be to remain fit and maintain fitness levels rather than competitive sports or to achieve peak fitness levels.’

Vinod Channa, celebrity fitness expert adds, ‘During pregnancy, exercise is necessary because it can help avoid a lot of medical problems like excess swelling, excess fat, stress, blood pressure, and keep this under control. A minimum moderate workout is medically good and allowed.’

Munira Jawadwala Kawad, fitness and nutrition expert, Gold’s Gym India recommends, consulting a doctor before beginning any exercise programme. She adds, ‘Expectant mothers should start exercising gradually. Even five minutes a day is a good start if you’ve been inactive. Add five minutes each week until you reach 30 minutes.’ (Read: 10 diet dos and don’ts during pregnancy)

Tips you can follow

Dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothes and wear a supportive bra to protect your breasts.

Drink plenty of water to avoid overheating and dehydration.

Skip your exercises if you’re sick.

Opt for a walk in an air-conditioned mall on hot, humid days.

Avoid decline position exercises since the blood pressure is normally on a higher side during the first trimester, due to increase in the blood volume.

Haemoglobin levels drop, thus listen to your body, your fitness levels may not remain the same as pre-pregnancy.

Abdominal and back exercises are important.  They help with postural changes and stability and keep your body strong after the baby’s born, when you’ll have a lot of lifting to do. Since doing crunches on your back is not safe, thus switch to standing pelvic tilts or lying on your side or on your hands and knees; concentrate on bringing your navel toward your spine. You can also experiment with wall sits, side-lying bicep curls, side-lying lifts, side-lying lateral raises, and side-lying triceps extensions.

Stretching is critical. The third trimester is a great time to make stretching the focus of your fitness routine. Stretching is a great way to keep the blood flowing through your muscles, relieve tension, and keep your body supple. Here are a few stretches to explore: child’s pose, child’s kneel, tailor stretch, full back stretch and calf, ankle, and foot stretches.

Swimming helps to decrease the pressure on the joints during exercise. However, the intensity needs to be monitored.

Yoga is a great way to increase the oxygen uptake. There is an increased demand in oxygen supply to the growing tissues and baby. Also, oxygen helps in reducing pain during delivery.

Avoid heavy weights. During the third trimester, hormonal changes are thought to induce a greater laxity in joints, tendons, and ligaments in order to help accommodate the delivery of your new arrival. This makes you more susceptible to sprains and strains.

From about half-way through the pregnancy, you should avoid any exercises that require you to lie on your back.

Source: DNA/Melissa D’Costa  

Image source: Facebook

Published : September 29, 2013 12:00 pm | Updated:February 17, 2014 11:05 am
Read Disclaimer

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy? Your child may be obese!

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy? Your child may be obese!

Jennifer Aniston trying to conceive a baby!

Jennifer Aniston trying to conceive a baby!

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Related Stories

Perimenopause can be unsettling: Know what to look out for

Perimenopause can be unsettling: Know what to look out for

Late periods? 6 possible reasons behind this

Late periods? 6 possible reasons behind this

Breast implants may come with some serious health risks: Know all about it

Breast implants may come with some serious health risks: Know all about it

PTSD may increase your risk of ovarian cancer

PTSD may increase your risk of ovarian cancer

Pregnancy after 35: Know your risks

Pregnancy after 35: Know your risks

Health News in Hindi

Baby Care Tips: Winter Skincare tips for babies: ठंड के मौसम में ऐसे रखें अपने नन्हें-मुन्ने का ख्याल, 4 विंटर बेबी स्किन केयर टिप्स

Baby Care Tips: Winter Skincare tips for babies: ठंड के मौसम में ऐसे रखें अपने नन्हें-मुन्ने का ख्याल, 4 विंटर बेबी स्किन केयर टिप्स

Honey Benefits : शहद खाएंगे रोज, तो होंगे ये 8 अद्भुत फायदे

Honey Benefits : शहद खाएंगे रोज, तो होंगे ये 8 अद्भुत फायदे

Karela for Diabetes : सिर्फ पिए ही नहीं करेले के रस में पैरों को डुबाकर देखें, डायबिटीज को जड़ से कर देगा खत्म

Karela for Diabetes : सिर्फ पिए ही नहीं करेले के रस में पैरों को डुबाकर देखें, डायबिटीज को जड़ से कर देगा खत्म

Tea Tree Oil Benefits: सर्दियों में टी-ट्री ऑयल लगाने के फायदे हैं कई, विंटर रैशेज़, पिम्पल्स और डैंड्रफ की समस्या होगी दूर

Tea Tree Oil Benefits: सर्दियों में टी-ट्री ऑयल लगाने के फायदे हैं कई, विंटर रैशेज़, पिम्पल्स और डैंड्रफ की समस्या होगी दूर

Healthy Food for Diabetics:  डायबिटीज़ में खाएं ये चीज़ें बेधड़क, होगा फायदा, कंट्रोल में रहेगा ब्लड शुगर लेवल

Healthy Food for Diabetics: डायबिटीज़ में खाएं ये चीज़ें बेधड़क, होगा फायदा, कंट्रोल में रहेगा ब्लड शुगर लेवल

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Want to live longer? Exercise vigorously every day
  • Pornography and poor decision-making: Are they connected?
  • Embrace healthy habits if you want your brain to tackle stress efficiently
  • Don’t let diabetes take a toll on your immunity: Bolster it with natural remedies
  • Ashwagandha: Your natural weapon against stress and anxiety disorder

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Quick Weight Loss Tips
  • Power Yoga
  • Yoga and Diet Tips
  • Yoga Surya Namaskar
  • Weight Loss Yoga Poses
  • Quick Diabetic Diet Recipes
  • Diabetes Diet Tips
  • Clove Oil Beauty Benefits
  • To Loss Belly Fat
  • Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Cancer
  • Symptoms of Chikungunya
  • Symptoms of Dengue
  • Hepatitis b
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Back Pain
  • Slipped Disc
  • Teeth Sensitive
  • Breast Cancer
  • EBOL Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Symptoms of Vitamin B12
  • Acne
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Quit Smoking
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Flat Abs
  • Apple Cider Vinegar

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2019 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.