Can You Do CrossFit While Pregnant? Building Baby and Biceps  

Pregnancy is a very unique and life-changing process for women because it comes with a lot of complications and body transformations. However, doctors often recommend different meditations and exercises to go through this process smoothly. Because of the rising popularity of CrossFit, this question arises often: Can you do CrossFit while pregnant? 

This is a major concern among women nowadays. The main attraction of CrossFit workouts in this scenario is that you can modify them according to your body’s concerns and requirements. In this article, we will unfold the pros and cons of CrossFit during pregnancy.

Can you do CrossFit while pregnant?

A brief answer to this question is Yes, you can do it but under certain conditions and considerations. Such as, whether they tried CrossFit before pregnancy or not. Do they have a normal or high-risk pregnancy? Their comfort workout movements? The changes their body goes through? Their trainers should be aware of all these things before starting CrossFit. Crossfit is like any other workout you do in your daily routine, with few changes.  Listen to your body carefully, and then take action accordingly; this is the mantra of CrossFit. 

How do you modify your CrossFit during pregnancy?

Here are a few things that you need to change in your CrossFit routine after pregnancy:

Consult your Gynec

Before indulging in CrossFit exercises, consult your doctor about your health condition. You gotta know your fitness level, physical strength, and pregnancy complications to customize your workout. 

Avoid intense movements

The first few trimesters of every pregnant woman are quite crucial. There are so many things that need to be taken care of. Avoid lifting heavy weights, jumping, and bouncing while stretching during workouts. Limit the range of your motion according to your growing pregnancy.  

Discuss with your coach. 

Tell your trainer about your pregnancy as soon as possible to avoid risk. Ask him about the alternatives to intense workouts to improve your stamina. Abandon all those activities which include any risk of falling. 

Prioritize core stability 

There is a saying, “Strong mamas grow stronger babies,”  as exercising during pregnancy benefits both Mommy and Baby. So instead of intense workouts, focus on exercises that are gentle on your abdominal muscles and improve the strength of your pelvic floor. For example, exercises on stability balls and Kegels proved quite suitable for pregnant women. Because it supports their Belly.

Stay Hydrated

Pregnant women are more sensitive to heat and dehydration. So, ensure your workout space is well-ventilated; a water bottle should always be with you while exercising. The fetus puts extra pressure on the mother’s body, and to fulfill those, they need extra nutrients.

Benefits of doing CrossFit while pregnant

  • Strength and flexibility are two major attributes that every pregnant woman wants to achieve by exercising. And It is no secret that CrossFit is a complete package if you want to build a strong & supple body.
  • Those who follow a regular CrossFit routine experience low depression risk, a rise in energy level, healthy weight gain, and balanced hormonal changes. The risk of excessive weight gain and diabetes can be reduced drastically by doing workouts.
  • To build stamina and increase your endurance level, focus more on balanced nutrient intake with a customized CrossFit workout.  It helps during labor for a normal delivery process. 
  • Having a trainer to aid you during a workout proves very beneficial because it prevents the risk of any inconvenience and injury. Crossfit allows you to hire a Trainer who keeps track of your body requirements and changes. 
  • Besides core stability from aerobic workouts, pregnant women who do CrossFit can also expect to remain strong and flexible throughout their pregnancies.
  • If you keep doing CrossFit even after delivery, it will help you in Postpartum recovery. A healthy mind and body are requirements of everyone beyond pregnancy. It will also enhance your sleep quality.
  • Crossfit community is very supportive, especially towards pregnant women. Which makes it more beneficial for your physical and mental health.

Risks of doing CrossFit while Pregnant

If you are facing any complications during your pregnancy. If any movement makes you uncomfortable, avoid it. Also, if you lack adaptability because of fluctuating body needs, ask your trainer to change your workout. During jumping, be careful about falling and muscle pulling. Here are a few more things you should be concerned about:

Don’t overburden yourself.

Of course, CrossFit is famous for its high-intensity workout sessions. But pushing your body too hard can have a bad impact on both mother and baby.  So, replace your energy-consuming movements with relaxing exercises for your muscles. Try to avoid rope climbs and box jumping.

Muscle instability

During pregnancy, hormonal imbalance is at its peak. Because of loose ligaments, joints become more insatiable and prone to fracture. Learn about your trigger points and limit the movements. If you were doing CrossFit even during pregnancy, just try to stick to your routine exercises in earlier days and then gradually go for alternatives.

Oxygen level in check

Every individual is different, and because of their unique Physique and health, women face various health issues. If they indulge themselves in heavy workouts in result, blood flow can be reduced in the uterus and eventually, low oxygen levels have a bad impact on the baby’s health.

How do you modify your exercises during pregnancy?

One of the most asked questions is where and how you ought to change your workout routine. Crossfit coaches are the primary help in this matter. First, learn about your pregnancy thoroughly, concerns, changes, and adaptation level of your body.

Then start with regular exercises; if your body feels uncomfortable, replace them with easier ones. Alternatives are available in all CrossFit areas, which is the main attraction of CrossFit membership programs. Running can be replaced with biking, box jumps can be replaced with step-ups, and every exercise can be customized.

Conclusion 

In this article, we discussed whether Can we do CrossFit while pregnant. And all the pros and cons of doing CrossFit during pregnancy. So, in the end, we conclude that CrossFit is suitable for you or not depending on your body’s requirements. You can choose from your set of exercises according to your doctor’s recommendation from the vast range of CrossFit workouts. Just stay consistent and be easy on your body. Stay in contact with your physician and make regular checkups.