Being pregnant does not preclude a daily exercise regimen. In fact, various studies have shown that exercising during pregnancy can actually improve both physical and emotional health. If your pregnancy is going as expected and your baby is healthy, there is no need to refrain from some mild workout routine. Exercise can also ease labour pains and delivery due to increased flexibility and muscle strength in your abdomen and pelvic regions. Of these exercises, sit-ups or abdominal crunches are among the most important workouts to strengthen your core muscles. This article will help you understand how to perform sit-ups during pregnancy, its benefits as well as any risk factors.
Crunches during the first trimester are very easy and quite safe. In fact, they are recommended in moderate amounts for the first 4 months in your pregnancy. However, it is essential to ensure you perform the exercises with the right precautions. Find a comfortable place to workout, keep an eye out for any physical or mood changes, and stop immediately if you experience any symptoms like pain.
Continuing crunches into your second and third trimesters might produce symptomatic effects like ashen skin, vomiting, fainting, dizziness and so on. This occurs because the increase in the size of the foetus cramps up the internal abdominal space, and might even exert pressure on the vena cava, the large vein which supplies the heart with oxygen-poor blood. As the blood circulation towards the heart slows, you may experience disoriented states. If these occur, lie down on the left side of your body, allowing blood supply to your heart to continue. Alternatively, you can do other yoga exercises for the abdomen.
It is always a good idea to consult your doctor before doing anything that could put a strain on your pregnancy. If you did regular exercise and your pregnancy has minimal complications, your doctor might permit you to continue. Remember that exercises that strain your body can lead to problems, so stick to light training.
Sit-ups, also known as abdominal crunches, require no equipment or gym membership. You can do them in the comfort of your own room.
Here is a list of things to remember when performing crunches during pregnancy.
Crunches make your abs stronger, that is they improve the elasticity and hardness of your rectus abdominis muscles.
Here are five reasons to stop doing crunches when you are pregnant.
As mentioned earlier, sit-ups should be avoided during the second and third trimesters. Here are some reasons why:
The standard myth about sit-ups exerting pressure on the baby is false. In fact, it is important to improve core abdominal strength during pregnancy to remain healthy and have a successful delivery. However, crunches are not the only exercises you can do in this regard. Other exercises include planks, exercise ball workouts, breathing exercises and so on. Ensure you add a bit of flavour to your daily routine so you don’t get bored.