5 months preggers and still working abs

[AnnaD - TX]

I saw the cutest lady at the gym the other day. I didnt realize she was prenant until she turned around. She was in FAB shape, then she went to the ab room and did a complete ab workout. I was in awe, can u still do that? does it help?

[.V.]

Your body will not allow you to do anything that will harm the baby. When it is time to stop, it will tell you.

The more healthy and fit the mother is, the healthier the baby will be - and the easier the birth will be.

I don't mean the 5% BF kind of fitness - I mean strong, conditioned, with a normal 15 - 20 % BF.

I saw a female Paramedic 8 months pregnant crawl into a muddy ditch, under a car, help extricate the victim, perform an endotracheal intubation and start an IV access right there - lying on her big ole' belly. I've actually worked with two of them until very late in the pregnancy. Then one day, the hips loosened up, the body said, "no more" - and they stopped working for a couple of weeks until they gave birth.

Now the time after having the baby is different - they shouldn't do anything too strenuous for 6-8 weeks. And not expect to be fully recovered for up to two years.

After my last one was born, my wife asked the doc, "how long before I can have sex again". His reply was, "that depends on if you are in a private room, or semi-private".

[CF-OC_gal]

At some point ab crunches and other similar exercises should be dropped because it can potentially tear the facia and leave a wide gap rather than a centre line. Of course this is cosmetics. It's not reocommended.

I switched from BB to cardio/stretch classes when I was 4 months preggers and was able to do full situp within 24 hours of giving birth. Not many ladies at that time were fit enough to do so.

I was climbing stepladders while 8 mos. out, much to my clients dismay.

Just staying active is going to help you thorugh a pregnancy. I've been on one running site where the moderator's wife has photos of running a marathon while prego. She wasn't out to break records but rather just live her lifestyle.

[threenorns]

the only time a healthy, strong, conditioned set of abs becomes an issue is in the event of an emergency c-section - the doctor will hate you with a passion.

[.V.]

Would this be the same doc that will likely forget to sew the tranverse abdominus back together?

I don't know why they do that - so many OB's will simply sew the facia and skin back together and leave the muscles unattached.

After my wife's C-section, things were so crazy that they were left undone - then the doc who later did the hysterectomy put them back together explained that it is common practice to leave them apart, not a good practice - but still a common one.


That brings up a very important idea I haven't thought of before now. Any woman who is pregnant should discuss this with her doc and make sure he understands that in case of an emergency c-section that he is EXPECTED to sew the muscles back together.

[ajarvis]

That's unbelievable that they don't sew the muscles back together! Good to know!

Also the stronger your abs are the easier time you'll have with pregnancy regarding lower back pain. Not to mention the more fit you are the easier labour you should have.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by a_welch503

After my wife's C-section, things were so crazy that they were left undone - then the doc who later did the hysterectomy put them back together explained that it is common practice to leave them apart, not a good practice - but still a common one.

Dude, are you serious? I've never heard of that before. Without some kind of rationale I can't see why they'd leave them apart. It seems so stupid. If I ever get married and the doc has to perform a C-section I'll be sure to bring that up!

[Shamrock]

I wouldn't want to run into some of these hardcore juicing BB'ers in a delivery room. They can really do some damage....

[threenorns]

i wasn't anywhere near bodybuilding when my older daughter was born and i gave the nurse a black eye and the baby's father two!