Strength training during pregnancy can provide several benefits if done safely and under medical supervision. It can help prepare the body for labor by strengthening muscles, improving posture, and reducing back pain. Studies also show strength training may decrease the likelihood of C-section and shorten early labor. However, those with high-risk pregnancies or serious weightlifters should avoid heavy lifting as the pregnancy progresses. Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing excess weight gain through regular exercise is also important for positive pregnancy outcomes.

1. Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Women's Health
Professional
DR. LORI GORE-GREEN'S PORTFOLIO OF EXPERIENCE AS A WOMEN'S HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
Is It Safe to Do Strength Training During
Pregnancy?
November 22, 2022 by Dr. Lori Gore-Green
Many fitness enthusiasts wonder how their workouts will change once they become pregnant. If
you are not currently in a regular strength training program, it is strongly advised to wait until
after giving birth. It is not a good idea to start an extreme program during pregnancy. If you are
already taking part in regular exercise, it is still necessary to modify your routine to accommodate
your growing body. For some people, such as serious weightlifters, it is advised to avoid lifting
heavy objects as their pregnancy progresses.
Before starting a fitness regimen while pregnant, your doctor should clear it first. You must follow
best practices when it comes to working out while pregnant. You can also consult a pre-natal
fitness professional for tips and suggestions.
There are several advantages to maintaining a strength training program throughout pregnancy.
In addition to staying fit, lifting weights can also help prepare your body for parenthood.
According to Andrea Chisholm, a board-certified OB-GYN in Wyoming, strength training can
Dr. Lori Gore-Green’s Biography Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dr. Lori Gore-Green Blog
Contact Presentations by Dr. Lori Gore-Green Multimedia

2. assist with posture changes, maintain endurance, and protect the lower back. This is an essential
part of labor.
One of the benefits of strength training while pregnant is improving the strength of your back
muscles. The growing belly and enlarged breasts can stress the back muscles, leading to lower
back pain. Doing so can help strengthen the back muscles and increase the strength of your core.
According to studies, strength training can help improve labor outcomes by decreasing the
likelihood of a C-section and shortening the early stages of labor. It can also help lower the length
of hospital stay.
Although strength training can help improve labor outcomes, it is also not a good idea to start
worrying about going into early labor as it can still lead to premature delivery.
One of the most important advantages of strength training while pregnant is helping you maintain
a healthy weight. Although it is important to gain weight to support your baby’s development, too
much can lead to health problems, such as gestational diabetes.
Getting too little weight gain can also lead to the development of a child being too small. This can
cause issues such as low birth weight and illness.
A regular exercise program during pregnancy can help prevent excess weight gain. It can also help
lower the risk of preeclampsia.
Although strength training can lower the risk of gestational diabetes, it can still increase the risk of
developing this condition later in life. Usually, high blood sugar levels during pregnancy can return
to normal. However, if this happens later in life, it can lead to type 2 diabetes. In addition,
gestational diabetes can enhance the risks of developing other conditions, such as impaired
glucose tolerance and obesity.
One of the toughest lines of defense against gestational diabetes is incorporating resistance
training into your regular exercise program. Doing so can help prevent the development of this
condition and protect the baby from macrosomia, which can occur when a newborn weighs over
eight pounds.

3. Tagged With: Dr. Lori Gore-Green, health, Women's Health
Filed Under: Dr. Lori Gore-Green, Women's Health
Medical News
Kids Exposed to Smoke In Utero Had
Better Lung Function If Moms Popped
Vitamin C
Dementia Risk Score Touts 'Nearly
100%' Predictive Accuracy
Exercise During Chemo Shows Benefits
for Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Importance of HDL Cholesterol
Overstated for Black Adults
Gabapentin, Opioid Prescriptions More
Likely to Overlap in Recent Years
Treating Obesity Should Be Our
Healthcare Moonshot
TNF Receptor 1 May Drive Pulmonary
Arterial Hypertension Phenotype
Hype Words Rising in NIH Grant
Funding Announcements

4. Dr. Lori Gore-Green: Links
Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Gynecology and
Obstetrics
Dr. Lori Gore-Green |Community
Service
Dr. Lori Gore-Green Community Service
Info
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
COPYRIGHT © ABOUT DR. LORI GORE-GREEN ·