Women often ask me if it’s “safe” to exercise in the ninth month of pregnancy, and if so, what workouts I am personally maintaining in the final weeks of the third trimester. Of course, it is both safe and important to continue exercising in the ninth month of pregnancy. This pregnancy, I have actually been able to maintain an even more intense workout schedule than I did with my first pregnancy. In part, because I am carrying Baby Boy differently, and in part, because I was more educated and prepared to strengthen important muscle groups this pregnancy to keep me going strong right up until the end.

In my first pregnancy, I had some soreness in my back and pelvis toward the end and had to scale back my workouts quite a bit. This time around, I was sure to do a lot of back and core strengthening exercises to prevent injury or strains in the ninth month of pregnancy when my belly is at its largest. Be sure to check out my Fit Pregnancy Total Body Workout DVD for ideas on how to strengthen important muscle groups during all three trimester of pregnancy.

 

If you read my last post, you know I had an eventful Friday night last weekend with regular contractions and a short stay in the hospital. The irony is — the contractions came on my rest day. I got the go-ahead from my doctor to continue my regular workout routine (in fact, when I asked her if I should “take it easy,” she looked at me like I was the crazy one … not even my doctor gives me an excuse to put my feet up for a minute :). Here are my workouts from this past week:

• Day 1: Ran a 10K with a client
• Day 2: 3 hours of cardio machines, weights, and running with clients
• Day 3: 1 hour of cardio machines with a client and 2 fit walks with Emma
• Day 4: 6 hours of cardio machines, weights, and running with clients
• Day 5: Rest day with 2 fit walks with Emma
• Day 6: 4.5 mile walk/run
• Day 7: 1 hour of plyos and running with a client and 1 fit walks with Emma

As you can see, I am still able to maintain a fairly rigorous workout schedule, even in the ninth month of pregnancy. However, I have definitely needed to scale back my intensity and speed during my runs and cardio work. I am still doing a good bit of weight training, but I have modified my ab exercises to do more on the exercise ball versus floor exercises.

I am really hoping that Baby Boy decides to make an entrance into the world this week. I have constant Braxton Hicks contractions, and I’m soooo ready to meet him. I got the green light from my doctor to deliver as early as yesterday, but after about 6 hours of regular contractions, they simply died down. I delivered Emma at exactly 37 weeks. Did you deliver your second later than your first, or vice versa?