Pregnant Athlete

If you want to keep active and help your body best adapt to pregnancy - we’ve got you!

If your goal is to move better and reduce pregnancy related pain - we've got you! 

If you want to recover well and safely return to exercise postpartum - we’ve got you!

Whether you've just found out that you're pregnant or are nearing the end of the first trimester, let's be real... you've probably turned to google to uncover the do's and don'ts of pregnancy and now you've found a heap of helpful but somewhat contradicting and confusing information on everything from eating to sleeping to exercising during pregnancy.

Maybe you're even a little frustrated and dishearten because most of this information is telling you what you CAN'T do!!

If fitness and movement is a BIG part of who you are, you're pregnant and want to train with confidence during this season... then this blog is for you!

TRAIN WITH PURPOSE

It is phenomenal how the female body changes over the nine months of pregnancy - we legitimately grow a human being! The physical and hormonal changes throughout pregnancy are constant. You really don't know what your experience is going to be, until you're living it.

Maybe everything is tracking along nicely and you're exercising pretty similar to how you usually would - just with a few pregnancy specific modifications OR maybe you've been hit with sickness and nausea which is making any movement feel almost impossible. Maybe you're experiencing pain that is limiting your confidence and capacity to train OR maybe you just don't know where to start!

They key is in understanding how our bodies change and how to intentionally address these changes with safe and specific exercises. 

While pregnancy is a unique and individualised experience, there are some commonalities during pregnancy which if capitalised on, can ultimately keep you moving and help you best adapt to this season.

So whatever you are up for, Pregnant Athlete is designed to help keep you moving throughout your pregnancy. 

We've linked two of our pregnancy programs below -

Move better during pregnancy with these 9 mobility exercises AND Help your body adapt to pregnancy with these 9 activation exercises. 

These programs aim to do what they say they do - help you move better and help your body adapt to the physical changes of pregnancy.

KEEP IT SAFE, SIMPLE AND STRUCTURED

If you've ever just rocked up to the gym without a plan, you'll agree that your session is not as effective compared to having one! Time spent on coming up with a plan while you're already at the gym would be better spent on that 8 minute finisher! 

So, keep training in pregnancy safe, simple and structured!

Safety: Keeping active in pregnancy is safe and recommended. Exercising during pregnancy has been known to improve maternal mental health, reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, incontinence, pelvic and lower back pain, and help prepare your body for labour.

Simplicity: Stick to what you know and what feels good. Mobility, activation and strength are foundational pillars for training during pregnancy.

REDEFINE YOUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEASON

When being active is a BIG part of who you are and what you enjoy - it doesn't (and shouldn't) stop because you are pregnant. Yes, now is not to the time to try and hit any personal bests... but it is most definitely the time to prioritise you!

Outline what you want to achieve in the week, and have room to be flexible to swap training days and times depending on how you feel. 

As health practitioners, Jay and I understand that  there may be medical circumstances that limit your ability to exercise during pregnancy. If you are in this position, have a conversation with your obstetrician to see how they can best advise you. 

We want you to remember, that there is almost always something you can do to keep mobile during pregnancy! 

Written by Jay and Rachel