RHODE MAP TO MOTHERHOOD: Staying fit during pregnancy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) –

We checked out CORE Studios in Providence to get a one-on-one training session in with owner Denise Chakoian. She showed us what’s safe, and what’s not, when it comes to working out while pregnant.

Her first question was, “What was your fitness level BEFORE pregnancy?”

Chakoian advises pregnant clients not to start a rigorous fitness routine when they’re pregnant, unless they had an intense routine before becoming pregnant.

Especially for beginners who want to work some type of physical activity into their normal routine, she suggests low-impact exercises like walking or spinning.

“You are staying healthy, burning calories, your heart is pumping,” she says. Spin bikes, she says, can also be adjusted to accommodate a woman’s growing baby bump.

Other easy modifications to popular exercises are step-ups using a low bench, and body weight exercises, like squats, using TRX bands. “It gives you a little support, in a safe way.”

Trainers like Chakoian can modify many types of exercises to be safe for pregnant women, but she suggests keeping your workout at whatever pace allows you to maintain a conversation.

According to a new study, babies born to moms who exercised while pregnant had better neuromotor development and heart health. Moms had less stress, a lower risk of c-section and gestational diabetes, and an easier overall pregnancy, labor and delivery.

You should always consult your doctor before you begin or continue exercise while you’re pregnant.

©WLNE-TV 2019