pregnant & training

We adjust your workout during pregnancy. We have special programs for every stage of pregnancy. The heat of the cabin goes lower (or off). You don’t use a cape. You can still do the classes, but make sure you have a personal program. If there are exercises you can’t do in the workout, the teacher will tell you & you will do the ones from your own program instead.

A lot changes during pregnancy. First of all, of course, you get a bigger belly. The center of gravity changes and the weight increases. During pregnancy you also produce more relaxin. This can lead to looser tires. The blood circulation also changes, you have a larger blood volume and a faster resting heart rate. More blood vessels are formed and there is a faster breathing. This also makes you tired more quickly during pregnancy.

From 12 weeks no straight abdominal muscles but oblique and transverse abdominal muscles
After 12 weeks we avoid training your straight abs in isolation, such as with sit ups. Between all abdominal muscles is a long line, the linea alba. The linea alba plays an important role in diastasis. Because you produce relaxin during pregnancy and the ligaments become more lax, the linea alba will also do the same. This causes it to move more apart, we call this diastasis. This is a desirable process to gain more space for the uterus. By tightening the straight abdominal muscles, you pull extra on the linea alba, which gives you even more space and can cause an abdominal hernia. That is why you should not train the straight abdominal muscles during pregnancy. The oblique and transverse abdominal muscles pull the linea alba in a good way, which give firmness. So you really want to train this one.

Watch out for a tute
Keep a close eye on your abdomen while exercising. When a roof forms on the abdomen, the abdominal pressure is too high. The linea alba is then stretched and therefore weaker and loses its function (holding the organs inside and firmness of the basic stabilization). It is then wise to adjust the exercise or not to do it anymore with a tute. Excessive abdominal pressure can lead to various complaints, such as lower back and pelvic complaints, pelvic floor complaints, constipation, pain around the navel or umbilical hernia, prolapse and difficulty breathing completely.

After pregnancy (approximately up to 3-6 months)
In any case, only train after 6 weeks, in connection with wound recovery. By training the straight abdominal muscles too quickly, you slow down the recovery from, for example, a diastasis. By training the oblique and transverse abdominal muscles, you can give more strength to the linea alba. You realize this by pushing your back well into the ground and pulling in your navel. You train oblique abdominal muscles by, for example, tapping the heels from the side or doing oblique exercises with a kettlebell (bending sideways while standing). You want to avoid an increase in abdominal pressure (crunches/sit-ups) in the first phase after pregnancy. Also be careful when grabbing dumbbells and bending forwards. Preferably lift heavy weights from your knees up. Also be careful with running and jumping during the first 6 months after giving birth. All bonds have loosened in the body. Jumping and running too fast can cause the pelvic floor to sag (which will only cause complaints after years). Bands in the wrists are also weaker. Take planks and down dogs into account, for example. Possibly use dumbells with a plank or make a plank from the elbows. It is important to first focus on stability, so train calmly and in a controlled manner and build up from there. bbb’s mama NB (after childbirth) programs take into account a safe build-up.

Asymmetrical exercises
Do not do too many asymmetrical exercises during pregnancy, such as sideways cycling, lunge lunge or a scissors movement. This can lead to pelvic complaints. If you have no complaints, it is possible, but as soon as you experience pain or discomfort, it is better to skip the exercise.