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Published

May 3, 2022

Updated

October 17, 2022

6 Prenatal Exercises To Strengthen Your Core

Learn how to strengthen your core to keep you stable and prevent any accidents during pregnancy.

Medically reviewed by

Having a strong core is important for everyone, but it's especially crucial during pregnancy.

What Are The Core Muscles?

Your core muscles are the muscles in your midsection - including your abdominal muscles, back muscles, and pelvic floor muscles.

What are the Benefits of Strong Core Muscles During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your core muscles need to work harder than ever to keep you stable and prevent any major accidents.

Here are some of the benefits of strengthening your core muscles during pregnancy:

  • Reduced risk of back pain - Back pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy, and keeping good posture while pregnant can reduce these risks!
  • Prevent or treat constipation - Since your uterus grows over time, your bowels can have a hard time getting rid of waste. If this happens too often (or gets severe), that could be due to weakened stomach/abdominal wall muscle groups. Strengthening these muscles can help!
  • Helps manage nausea and vomiting - A strong core can help keep you from feeling nauseous or throwing up, which can make your pregnancy a bit more pleasant. Mud wraps might just be for people in love with nature rather than curing morning sickness (unless done right!).
  • Reduces the risk of uterine prolapse - This is a condition in which the uterus slips out of its normal position. Prolapse is a big risk during pregnancy, and if left untreated, can lead to major health issues for both you AND baby! Strengthening your core muscles can help to prevent uterine prolapse.
  • Helps with labor and delivery - A strong core can help you push during labor, and may even shorten your labor time.
  • Helps you regain your pre-pregnancy figure more quickly - After giving birth, it can be tough to get your body back to where it was before pregnancy. Working on recovering these key areas will allow yourself better use them throughout recovery period after childbirth so that they're stronger once those kiddos start needing attention again :)

So as you can see, having a strong core is not only beneficial during pregnancy, but also for post-birth recovery. It might just be the key to avoiding those nagging back pains, and a glowing postpartum physique!

What happens to your abs during pregnancy?

A lot of women worry about their abdominal muscles separating during pregnancy. Unfortunately, many women don't know why their ab muscles are separating and what they should do about it other than exercise.

The abs actually do a lot during pregnancy. They help to support the growing uterus, and they can also prevent back pain.

Is it safe to do ab workouts while pregnant?

Yes, it is safe to do ab workouts while pregnant. You should avoid any workouts that cause severe pain, but most ab workouts are safe to do while pregnant. However...

It is important to listen to your body and stop working out if you feel any pain. Pain like this doesn't go away within seconds or minutes--this could lead into an injury from heavy weights if too much pressure continues on weak ligaments & joints; so stop & wait until all inflammation goes away OR consult with your health-care provider about the safest exercises for you.

Ab exercises to avoid during pregnancy

There are a few exercises that you should avoid during your pregnancy. One of these exercises is the crunch. Crunches put a lot of pressure on your abs, and they can also cause back pain. Do crunches aggravate lower back pain They sure can! Other exercises that you should avoid during your pregnancy are Sit-Ups and Leg Raises.

Which ab exercises are safe for pregnancy?

Here are six prenatal exercises to help you strengthen your core.

  1. The Plank: Place your forearms on the floor and extend one leg in front of you, holding yourself up with the other leg and your toes. Keep your back straight and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
  2. The Pilates Hundred: Lie on your back with your legs in the air and your head and shoulders supported by props like rolling blankets or pillows propped under each arm (you can also use an exercise ball instead). Bring your legs down to the floor and keep them together. Pump your arms up and down 100 times.
  3. The Supine Bridge: Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your legs bent. Dig your heels into the floor, then press your hips and glutes off the floor. Hold for 8 seconds, then slowly rise to the starting position.
  4. The Farmer's Walk: Place your feet hip-width apart and shoulder-width apart, arms out to your sides. Lift one foot at a time off of their soles as if walking forward while keeping knees slightly bent — only go as high as you can without locking your knees. Alternate legs.
  5. The Seated Russian Twist: Sit on the floor with your knees bent and pull them into your chest. Lean back a few inches while keeping your back straight and twist your torso to the right, then to the left.
  6. The Thread the Needle: Lie on your back with your knees bent and pull one knee into your chest. Place your left hand on your ankle and extend your right arm overhead. Thread your left arm under the right, then bring your hands back to your ankle. Repeat on the other side.

These prenatal exercises will help to strengthen your core and improve your balance. As always, consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.

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