Too Fit, Too Pregnant

Wednesday 25th of September 2013 | Category: Opinion | Written by: Siobhan Thomas

Le-Ann Ellison kicked up all sorts of trouble on the internet when she posted pictures of herself at 38 weeks pregnant doing CrossFit (a mix of aerobic, body weight and weight lifting exercises). It seems a huge proportion of society are massively uncomfortable with the idea of a woman doing more than a pre-natal aqua yoga programme during their pregnancy, and Le-Ann in particular has been subject to what practically amounts to abuse for being so public about her exercise regime.

OFFICIAL GUIDELINES

Let’s be clear about what the official medical guidelines are in the UK on this subject. The following advice is for uncomplicated pregnancies:

It is safe to continue previous exercise and activity within your body’s limits
Don’t start a new vigorous exercise regime if you were inactive before pregnancy
Get advice from your GP if you are unsure, get specialist advice from a qualified instructor if you can
Avoid contact sports and exercises that hold any risk of a fall
Always warm up and cool down properly
Avoid exercises that require lying flat on your back
Avoid exercising to the point of breathlessness
Avoid overheating
Avoid scuba diving or exercising at very high altitudes without acclimatising first

Let’s go back to that first point – yep, seeing as there is no advice warning against lifting weights or other CrossFit exercises (which she has been doing for 2.5 years before her pregnancy) Le-Ann isn’t breaking any rules.

THE BENEFITS

OK, so we’ve established it’s alright to do it, but all the negative comments she has received relate to vanity and selfishness (and far more offensive and ridiculous suggestions to boot). But guess what? There’s more to it than that. Exercise during pregnancy can:

Increase energy levels
Increase oxygen flow to the placenta
Helps to combat anxiety, stress and depression
Reduce constipation
Reduce leg swelling
Aid better sleep
Help to build a stronger social network
Boost your immune system
Increase muscle tone and strength, thereby reducing the chances of injury (weight lifting in particular is helpful in this department)

It may also:

Reduce chances of getting varicose veins
Reduce cramps
Make labour and delivery easier

The list is too long to read aloud without pausing for breath, and breathlessness is against the rules (see first list above).

WHAT’S SHE DOING WRONG?

A quick glance over the various articles online and the feedback she has received will tell you the following about Le-Ann Ellison: mum exercise

She is reckless, selfish, disgusting, vain and endangering the safety of her own baby. She is deluded, possibly insane, a poor role model for other mums and one kind reader even suggested she ought to be arrested for knowingly harming her unborn child.

WHAT?! I wish to refer these ignorant, offensive – most likely envious – individuals to the list above on the many benefits of exercise during pregnancy. And the fact that it is safe. She has been exercising for a long time and will be very much aware of her limitations and in-tune with her body's capabilities during pregnancy.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have even stated that ‘women should be advised that adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes are not increased for exercising women.’

WHY ALL THE NEGATIVITY?

Firstly it is clear that there is a general lack of understanding across society when it comes to this kind of exercise – or for some people, any exercise at all during pregnancy. Too many people still believe that the 40 weeks (which is a long time by the way) should be spent with your feet up, eating for 2 and waiting for d-day to come.

There is also a general lack of acceptance still for women who lift weights. Again this is partly down to poor understanding about this method of exercise, with the majority of people believing that it automatically leads to a bulky, muscular physique. And female bodybuilders themselves are still a long way from general acceptance – how many people do you know that would be more diplomatic about an overweight celebrity yet freely label celebrities with muscle, let’s say Jodie Marsh as an example, as unsightly and unattractive? OK, so Jodie Marsh covered in gold body paint and wearing six inches of makeup isn't the greatest example, but my point relates to her physique alone. It is nonsensical that we are more comfortable catcalling women who put so much energy and commitment into their training than passing comment on more overweight or inactive people. By the way, I am not suggesting it is OK to be unkind to either group of women here, just pointing out a trend.

Of course the elephant in the room here has to be the green eyed monster himself, and I do believe most people who are dismissive or critical of pregnant women doing significant amounts of exercise are nothing more than envious of the results that someone else is achieving.

I SAY…

Bravo to her and to anyone else who manages to maintain this level of exercise through a time in their life when there is an abundance of plausible and often legitimate excuses that could get you out of it. My physique in no way resembles that of Le-Ann’s but as a result of a committed exercise programme (yes one that involves weights and resistance training) I feel physically stronger, more energetic and generally more healthy in this pregnancy than in either of my previous ones. Getting into your trainers and lycra when you struggle to roll out of bed in any kind of lady-like (or even human-like) manner is something I find difficult most of the time, and I often feel self-conscious. But I’ve benefitted and learned so much from exercising during this pregnancy that I cannot find a single excuse to get out of it.

My advice to any pregnant woman evaluating her exercise regime is to get good advice, learn to listen to her body and to accept women like Le-Ann as inspirational – rather than fodder for negative armchair criticism.