Pregnant women who keep CrossFitting could experience fewer complications, study shows
Contrary to conventional advice, a recent study suggests that avoiding exercise and fitness while pregnant is often not just unnecessary, but even harmful.
675 participants who lifted at least 80% of a one-rep max during pregnancy participated in an online survey.
Researchers at - among others - the Institute of Clinical Excellence, Concord, North Carolina; and the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, University of Alberta, Canada, concluded that 'individuals who engaged in heavy prenatal resistance training had typical perinatal and pelvic floor health outcomes that were not altered when they engaged in, or avoided Olympic lifting, Valsalva [forcefully exhaling against a closed airway, such as a shut mouth or pinched nose], or supine [lying face up] weightlifting.'
What's more, the study reported that 'participants who maintained pre-pregnancy training levels until delivery reported significantly less reproductive complications that those who ceased training levels prior to delivery'.
Most of the participants were recreational athletes (88%) engaged in CrossFit (61%, 410 out of 675) and/or weightlifting (49%, 332 out of 675) during pregnancy, and most reported no complications during pregnancy or delivery.
Many also returned to weightlifting following delivery (89%) after around three months.
It's a striking consideration, given that these pursuits are typically more injurious than traditional bodybuilding-type weight training, as the movements are less controlled and are executed at higher speeds with greater impact.
It's not the first study to extol the benefits of exercise more broadly on maternal health status. A review conducted between 2015 and 2020 selected 31 randomised control trials and found that women benefited significantly, experiencing lower maternal weight gain, faster heart-rate recovery, improved glucose tolerance, lower blood pressure, decreased depression risk, lower newborn weight and faster foetal heart-rate recovery time.
All studies followed a group-exercise program that included aerobic, resistance, pelvic-floor training, stretching and relaxation sessions.
Fitness inspiration if you're a new mum or expecting:
- A former WH editor and qualified PT on how to exercise during and after pregnancy
- Try Buump Active, the app for mum and mums-to-be who want to stay fit
- Here are the best pelvic-floor trainers to help you tighten your muscles as a new mum
- When should I be worried about how shy my child is?
- How to help your kids deal with bullying
- I sometimes feel bad I don’t have a relationship with my parents. Should I get back in touch and try again?
- How can I overcome the fear that my depression makes me a bad parent?
- Black youths being pushed away from arts, says Britain’s first black ballerina
- How I found joy in life without children of my own
- Try parenting the Buddhist way – drop your expectations and go with the flow
- How to spot if your child is struggling with their mental health – and what to do next
- I’m postpartum - when can I start to exercise?
- Is your teenager lonely? The warning sIIigns and how to support them
- How minerals influence women's fertility and menstrual health
- Jealous ex-partner given life for murder of mother of two in front of children
- New algorithm dramatically cuts unnecessary antibiotic use in kids
- Pregnant women who keep CrossFitting could experience fewer complications, study shows
- Five gynae red flags women should never ignore
- 5 Signs You Could Be A Narcissistic Parent
- Doctors recommend early introduction of peanuts in children's diet: Details
- How to talk to kids about divorce - it's never easy, here our experts share the best ways to do it in this age-by-age guide
- All About Testosterone in Women
- This is the reality of dealing with emotionally immature parents
- Psychologist reveals 3 tips on how to navigate parenting with a new partner - and #1 is so important
- Children become more intelligent with ‘optimal’ amount of weekly reading
- There are no winners in the breast v bottle debate
- Prunes pack a powerful punch against inflammation and bone loss in postmenopausal women
- This is exactly how your period affects your workout, according to two experts
- Home
- Aches and Pains
- Children - Insomnia
- New Born Babies
- Babies From 2-12 months
- Spina Bifida
- Equipment Used
- Drug Abuse
- Other Ingredients
- The Handicapped Child
- Videos
- BALANITIS - Aromachildhood
- Worms
- Corona virus and pregnancy
- Contact Us
- Essential Oils for General Purposes
- The Methods - Aromatherapy - Children-2
- Hydrolats, Essential Oil Waters, and infused Oils
- Ringworm
- The Methods - Aromatherapy - Children- 3
- Basic Care Kit - Children - Essential Oils
- Web Links
- Acne
- Adolescent Acne
- The A - Z of Conditions
- Arthritis (juvenile Rheumatoid)
- Herbal Healing Infused Oils
- The Cave Man Eating Plan
- Things To Make For Your First Aid Cabinet
- The Basic Care Kit For Children
- Verrucas and Warts
- Caring Touch Massage
- The Methods - Aromatherapy - Children
- The Methods - Aromatherapy - Children - 4
- Athlete's Foot - 2
We have 7 guests and no members online