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I’m newly pregnant with my third (fingers crossed; still very early), and even several pregnancies later I’m still unclear about what the guidance is for exercise. Specifically, I’ve been lifting weights with a trainer for more than a year now and no one can tell me if it’s safe to continue to do so at this stage in pregnancy. My OB says that whatever you did before, you can do after, and my other doc says not to lift weights (or heavy weights) because of joint loosening. I exercise for my health and sanity and would love any clarity you can provide on whether I can continue this exercise and do anything other than walk!
—JP
Congratulations!
Whenever I read questions in which multiple doctors disagree, I always want to push you to get the doctors together in a room. Like: can’t they hash it out in front of you so you can see what’s what? Anyway, on to the evidence.
First, I’ve written at great length about aerobic exercise during pregnancy. The data there does indicate you can continue what you were doing before. And in fact, there is a lot of data suggesting that exercise can be helpful during pregnancy. Introducing even a moderate exercise program may decrease the risk of gestational diabetes, for example.
When we talk about weight lifting, the concern is not with heart rate but with possible injury. There is some evidence that argues for a link between jobs with a heavy lifting component and miscarriage, but these results are subject to concern about bias. The risk with lifting is more that the loosening of joints could increase the risk of injury.
This is an argument for listening carefully to your body. It’s not an argument not to lift. If you’ve been doing this for some time, you’ll know what works and what doesn’t. Keep going to the trainer.
(By the way, this question is also relevant to all those of you who write to ask about lifting your toddler. It’s fine.)
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