Hellobee Boards

You are motivated! I never did any ab work during my pregnancy!

I was told no more ab workout after 20 weeks.

I totally relate to the "abs feel weird" phenomenon. I've stopped doing most ab specific exercises at crossfit (sit ups, knees to elbows) because I don't like how they feel. I can still do planks at 24 weeks with no problem. Lots of exercises will still keep your core strong though - I think squats in particular are good for this.

I was told in the beginning no ab work (like sit ups) besides planks. They can make diastasis (your abs split) worse or even cause it! I figure they get enough of a work out doing full body stuff. They are stressed and doing sit ups and the like can make it WAY worse! I can do minimal range knee to elbows and such...but i'm pretty far along now (33W) and EVERYTHING stresses my abs. Push ups still work my core, too.

Squats are like, the very best thing you can do

my understanding is that you shouldn't do any ab exercises lying on your back. I do prenatal yoga, and we do some plank-type poses, as well as balancing poses that definitely work your core. But I think the risks that @JoJoGirl: is talking about come when you lie on your back and do situps or crunches?

and I agree with everyone who recommended squats!

@Silva: Yep that's why i said i stick to planks Even those are getting hard! The 'don't lie on your back' thing isn't about diastasis though, that's a concern with cutting off blood flow to the uterus because its weight lays on a major artery.

There seems to be some difference of opinion in the CF world about knees to elbows.. some people say they are fine, others say they put too much strain on you.. I guess that's where it comes to 'do what feels right'. For me they felt too much like sit-ups (ie really huge range of motion) so I cut them out.

I did Dailey method classes all through pregnancy and they just make sure you don't peak your ab muscles. That's how you can split them and really injure yourself. Otherwise I did the ab work (as well as I could) up until 38 weeks!