PREGNANCY
fitness
Heard that exercising
during pregnancy is
good for you and
bubba? Take a cue
from celebrity mums
and stay fit through
every trimester
WORDS: Sarah SellensBUMP BENEFITS
Indeed, not only do mums-to-be and
new mums benefit from all the positive
effects associated with an active
lifestyle (feel-good hormones, weight
management and stronger bones,
muscles and joints), they also reap
some maternity-specific rewards. While
there can be medical reasons to avoid
exercise during pregnancy (check with
your doctor or midwife to be sure), a bank
of data shows that staying fit can help
prevent pre-eclampsia, gestational
diabetes, Caesarean section, lower-back
pain, pelvic pain and urinary incontinence.
New research from Washington State
University even reports that exercising
during pregnancy could protect the
unborn child from obesity later in life.
And it’s not only sporty women who
should work out. ‘Exercise should be
performed not only by healthy pregnant
women, but also by sedentary females...
this is a good time to adopt a physically
active lifestyle,’ confirms Maria Perales,
author of a key study published in theJournal of American Medicine Association,
which recommends pregnant women do
a 45- to 65-minute strength and aerobic
workout three to four times a week.A GROWING TREND
It’s no wonder there’s a growing wave
of fitness offerings aimed at pre- and
post-natal women. ‘Exercise is now
actively encouraged,’ explains Jane Wake,
celebrity trainer. ‘Only a few years ago,
it was frowned upon. Now, GPs and
midwives know how important it is.’
It helps that a host of celeb mums have
been spotted moving during maternity- influencers Emily Skye and Kayla Itsines
regularly posted pregnancy workouts
to their millions of followers during their
recent pregnancies. Made in Chelsea star
Binky Felstead had no qualms about
sharing her post-natal exercise videos,
and we’ve all been inspired by Meghan
Markle’s yoga-honed pregnant body. So
we’ve tapped a few well-known fit celebs
to find out how they shaped up
for motherhood.
P
regnancy is a time to sit back, put your feet
up and let someone else do the heavy
lifting – right? Sure, you could, but a
growing number of today’s new mamas
extoll the benefits of getting more active
before and after labour. ‘Pre- and post-
natal fitness has become one of the
fastest-growing activity trends due to its many health gains,’
says Natasha Wood, pre- and post-natal exercise specialist
(natashajwood.com). ‘Women are increasingly aware of how
important staying active is before pregnancy, and how it will
support their journey into motherhood after it.’MUMHOOD
Created to help women keep fit
during and after pregnancy,
there are a host of classes
available at London Frame
studios. Non-Londoners can
enjoy the online programme
at mum-hood.com.BABY BY SIMONE
Created with the help of
Hollywood PT Simone
De La Rue’s obstetrician-
gynaecologist, this series of
full-body workouts will support
you from your first to third
trimester. Bodybysimone.com.MUM-TO-BE WORKOUTS
ACTIVE MATERNITY
SERIES
Super trainer Autumn
Calabrese and yoga expert
Desi Bartlett provide first,
second and third trimester
workouts, plus mum-and-baby
routines. Beachbody.com.