Did anyone do reformer Pilates throughout pregnancy?

[almondpesto]

Interested to hear people’s experiences!

If you did, could you keep going throughout the whole pregnancy? Did you have to go to specific prenatal classes or could you continue with your regular class? Do you think it helped with pregnancy/labour/recovery?

The context is that I am planning on TTC later in the year and wondering about the best types of exercise to focus on to feel good during pregnancy and after. Being realistic of course I might just feel too sick or tired to do anything at all!

I carried on with mat Pilates throughout pregnancy. I doubt they’d allow you to do reformer given risk of falling/injury with the equipment, but I might be wrong!

Why would you do reformer Pilates during pregnancy?

as pp said, I did prenatal Pilates and walking. I think staying fit and healthy definitely helped my labours. And I found it much easier to get back into fitness afterwards

oh and also- the pre/post natal classes are a great way to meet other mums. We even did baby yoga!

I did hiit routines throughout second and most of third trimester. First trimester I felt too ill! I think the advice is if your body is used to a certain level of exercise you can carry on at that level. (I have no idea what reformer pilates is though!)

I did reformer up until about 35 weeks. I also teach and have a few regular pregnant women in my class who are currently second tri. I just modify for them. In answer to why you would, if you already do reformer and enjoy it, why wouldn't you? It's good to stay strong and fit throughout pregnancy if you feel ok. The advice is not to start anything new in pregnancy, but established exercise modalities, fine to continue, modifying as and when you need to. I loved being pregnant, and had an easy pregnancy, and am sure being super active helped. Labour was a home birth, and I was more knackered after that than after I ran London marathon, so I am sure being fit helped me get through that too. DS had a big head! Who knows though. If it feels good for you in the moment, do it.

I would have thought the risk of injury was higher with reformer vs mat Pilates during pregnancy but interesting to hear lots of women continue throughout!

I’m always so impressed with people who continue exercising as normal through pregnancy. That was totally my plan too but I was absolutely dog tired and walking and Pilates was as much as I could handle!

I also had HB @PollyIndiaand found an absolute breeze vs pregnancy 😂

100% you can presuming pregnancy progressing well etc.

At the pilates studio i there is a prenatal reformer class which is mainly aimed for those starting in early pregnancy or for the 'regulars' near the end. Most regulars just stick in their usual class until late third trimester. A few modifications of course but as long as done properly reformer pilates is not only safe but also highly beneficial through pregnancy.

Thanks all! Interesting to hear people’s experiences. It’s good to know some people have been able to continue and find it beneficial, I’ve only got into doing reformer recently but I really enjoy it as a low impact but challenging way to exercise that helps me with strength and alignment. I can see how it could be a good option to stay active during pregnancy (with adjustments.). Will keep an eye out for prenatal classes if the time comes!

@PollyIndiathank you for this response! I'm 20 weeks & was hoping to continue throughout. Did you get a pillow for footwork to avoid fully laying down?

fhere is a lady in my class who I think is 6 months pregnant and still coming. Our instructor is brilliant, the class is smallish with only 6 of us max at a time and she has planned modifications for the pg lady in advance, uses cushions where necessary, reduces spring tension etc.
It’s just another form of exercise, as long as your instructor knows what they’re doing and you’re feeling well etc I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t continue if you want to.

I did weekly private reformer Pilates with a Stott trained teacher throughout pregnancy. I didn’t lie on my back after the first trimester.

It didn’t stop me from getting SPD from first trimester onwards, and being incapacitated towards the end.

Looking back I wouldn’t do it again as a lot of common Pilates exercises aren’t particularly useful for pregnancy ie lots of externally rotated hip positions which isn’t helpful when you’re naturally becoming externally rotated from your developing belly and losing internal rotation. I would have been better off following a proper prenatal weights and mobility program.

Thank you both for you messages.

I've been taking a specific pregnancy mat pilates class once a week, but I’m in a routine of exercising 4-5 days a week & I’d be bored if I wasn't trying to carry on.

I've been still lying on my back at the moment as its usually only 5-10 mins of class, but thinking i’ll start to incorporate pillows now I'm over half way ☺️

yes twice over and I was doing crucifix and chariots and side splits and sitting in a hot bath etc etc exercises where I could theoretically fall at my own risk, my instructor is amazing and took every qualification available before anyone says he’s inexperienced. He knew my body better than I did (he’s not available since Covid unfortunately) I loved it

Thank you @thinkingofachangeI’ve been using the stick a little bit, just for the reassurance I've got stability as I’m a bit wobbly on a lunge even pre pregnancy

I went to special pregnancy sessions. It really helped me during labour because I was stronger but also because I knew exactly where all my muscles had moved to and how to use them

I did it until 38 weeks and had no problem lying on my back. My instructor had done specialist training though and was really hot on spotting abs doming, or if we were trying to sit straight up without rolling and adjusting exercises. We were never more than 4 in the class, and it was open from 16 weeks.

Did reformer up to 37 weeks with first pregnancy, no issues, had experienced teacher who gave me a few modifications (e.g. for crunches). Second sadly too busy with a toddler.

If you enjoy it stick with it. I think being generally fit probably helps postpartum but it’s hard to say really, every birth / recovery is very different.

I did reformer Pilates because I enjoyed it and it’s good exercise? I don’t see why it would be dangerous / high risk.