So, the baby is due on Tuesday (officially) and we’re really excited about meeting the new addition to our family and finding out whether Leo will have a newborn brother or sister…
I want to write a bit about my experiences at Virgin Active Health Club about exercising whilst pregnant as it’s something that I’ve been regularly doing and have enjoyed thoroughly…
The later stages of the pregnancy
I’ve been a bit tired recently so haven’t been going to Virgin Active quite as regularly as I would have liked to. However the work I have put into training during this pregnancy has really benefited my fitness levels and I feel so much more active compared to my last pregnancy. I have less aches and pains and I’m on the go a lot more running around after our 3 year old and generally not feeling the need to take it too easy. In terms of how I look, most of the weight has gone straight onto the bump as opposed to elsewhere on my body.
Working out whilst pregnant
To be honest the pregnancy has been a breeze physically, and I do put this largely down to exercising during trimesters 2 and 3. I’ve also been working with a Virgin Active antenatal specialist personal trainer regularly throughout this time which has been invaluable to keeping me on track, motivating me and showing me what pieces of gym equipment are safe for me to be using (and believe me there are lots to choose from! I’ve been pleasantly surprised as to how much I can safely do in the gym, in fact.
Weight gain
Although the bump is definitely a little bigger this time, the weight gain has been exactly the same and I’ve gained exactly 2 stones each time.
Other people’s reactions
It’s been an interesting experience going to the gym with a bump. It’s a pretty rare sight – I’ve not spotted any other obviously pregnant women in there that I recall. I’ve had lots of women approach me after a training session, usually in the changing rooms saying how great it is that I’m training and commenting on the bump etc. I’ve had women telling me their experiences of going to the gym throughout their pregnancies right up until their labors and how they feel this helped them during the birth and postnatally.
Would I recommend attending a gym whilst pregnant?
Absolutely! Although for me doing so in the first trimester wasn’t overly appealing due to the increased risk of miscarriage at this time. However, the second and third trimesters have been so much easier as a result of exercising. I think that there is a lot of fear around this concept largely due to lack of knowledge. Guys especially in the gym have glanced over when I’ve been working out hard with really concerned expressions on their faces. But I think the trick is to stay as active as possible during the pregnancy and do as much research as possible about what is safe to do throughout the different stages. For me, the key is to remember that pregnancy is a natural process and NOT an illness, therefore why stop everything just because you’re growing a baby?
Jessica Fenton
