Modifying exercise, particularly CrossFit and weightlifting exercises, when pregnant is critical to reducing your risk for injury.
It’s hard to do for sure. We all want to maintain our fitness and remain competitive.
But, the priority during and after pregnancy is the safety and health of both baby and the birthing person.
Remember, just because you aren’t in pain or you are still capable of performing in the way you did pre-pregnancy, you may be doing yourself a disservice by setting yourself up for problems down the line, or at the very least some bad habits as you change your technique with various movements.
Of course, we are not discouraging exercise. In fact, please continue to exercise!! But, just use your best judgement and consider the ways in which you might modify your workouts during your pregnancy.
Below are modification examples:
Modify Olympic lifts:
Start at the “hang” positions: Modify the lifts by starting from the hang position when the belly increases in size, as this makes it harder to lower the barbell to the ground.
Finish in the “power” position: Often pregnant people don’t feel comfortable catching in the squat position. You can still work these barbell movements by catching in power positions.
Forego the barbell: Finally, when the size of the pregnant belly starts to change the bar path (ie. you are swinging that weight way out in front to avoid hitting your bump), consider switching to dumbbells or kettlebells for the Olympic lifts. An improper bar path leads to bad habits and can cause injury.
Modify other strengthening lifts:
The biggest thing to note here is that there is no reason to be doing max efforts when you are pregnant. You are probably not going to be setting any records and the cost/benefit may not end up being worth it. However, that is not to say you shouldn’t be lifting, or even lifting heavy. Just be sure that you are managing breathing and not creating too much pressure with these lifts. You need to be exhaling as you exert effort so as to avoid bearing down into the pelvic floor and abdominals.
A few specific notes:
when it comes to moving weight overhead, be sure that you are not over-arching your back and instead keeping the weight manageable so that you can maintain the best form
if squatting feels vulnerable because the bottom of the position feels weak, you can squat to a box to limit the range of motion. You will still be able to strengthen while protecting your body from an unstable position
when deadlifting, really think about dialing weight back in order to avoid using a bearing down Valsava manauever
Modify kipping movements:
Pregnant or postpartum people may experience a “separation” of the abs which we call a diastasis recti. Diastasis recti is caused by a stretching of the linea alba, the tissue that connects the left and rights halves of the rectus abdominis muscle. This is a very common condition caused by the growing uterus expanding against the abdominal muscles.
This can happen naturally, just by nature of the abdomen growing. However, if you have a weak core wall or are not properly engaging it during a kipping motion, you might be making the condition worse. It’s not necessarily that you aren’t skilled enough to do the movement, but rather that your core is stretched out (thanks baby!) and the muscles are unable to contract appropriately after a certain point. By continuing to kip when this is the case, you are risking over-stretching your core wall.
Kipping motions include: pulls up, muscle-ups, toe-to-bars, knees to elbows & knee raises
Modify by doing strict motions (band them as needed)
Pull ups can be further modified with ring rows
Toes-to-bar and knees-to-elbow can take a back seat. Perform Russian swings with a kettlebell if you want a metabolic stimulus and planks if you want a core stimulus.
The ability to kip will return. You aren’t losing out on anything.
Modify muscle ups:
Muscles ups: same as above. Let’s stay strict and no Valsalva maneuver. You want to avoid pressure bearing down on the pelvic floor.
If these modifications are out of reach, you can practice muscle-up transitions from your toes or using a band. You can also modify with jumping muscle-ups (stick to ring as you won’t want your belly to hit that bar).
Modify planks and hollow holds:
If you cannot feel your abs engaging, chances are that they aren’t. You can try side planks perhaps or planks on an elevated surface. At some point, you might just cut them out of your program.
Modify burpees:
Step out to a plank and back up. You can also do an incline push up using a bench, plates or boxes. If you are adding a jump over a barbell or other apparatus consider stepping over to avoid a potential fall and to minimize the impact through the pelvis. If burpees lead to incontinence or an “urge sensation”, modify.
A quick guide to common movement substitutions:
Kipping Pull Up = controlled kipping without pull up, strict pull-up or ring row
Kettlebell Swing = may modify to single arm swing for comfort on the back swing, may modify to Russian swing
Deadlift = sumo or kettlebell deadlifts may be more comfortable
Sit Ups = plank, pallof press, slam ball, side plank, hanging knee raise
Bench Press = press, push up (elevated as necessary)
Handstand Push Up = modified pike on box or floor, dumbbell or barbell press/push press
Box Jump = lower box at first, and then step up
Snatch/Clean =
hang power versions, then dumbbells as necessary once the belly is in the way
can perform the power version of the movement and then squat under control
moderate load deadlifts are also a great sub
Jump Rope/Running =
as far as your level of comfort allows
rowing is a good sub
kettlebell swings and/or slam ball for a similar metabolic effect
Thrusters/Wall Ball = controlled squat and presses either with a barbell or dumbbells
Push Ups/Burpees = on a raised surface like a box, parallettes or a bar in a squat rack.
Of course there are many many other modifications and these are not meant to be medical advice. Talk to your physical therapist or coach and listen to your body!!
