Zumba When pregnant

[lauraloo09]

Hiya everyone just looking for some advice. I am generally fit attend karate classes at least once a week and at 14 weeks pregnant I still go and do as much as I can, obviously no contact stuff just light pad work and kata. I have Zumba for the Wii and was wondering if it is ok to use that during pregnancy? Would love to keep my fitness up during this pregnancy :)

Replied and then MN went offline! Basically my Zumba instructor said fine for me to continue at classes after 12 weeks, I didn't but really wish I had!

Oh yes - definitely get on with the zumba! All those core stability muscles will come in super handy when you are getting bigger - you can be proud to be one of the few people who don't moan about back ache as you get towards due date, and you can be all smug pleased as you walk down the street instead of waddle

Being so fit and strong will help with the physical feat which is the birth and will also give you stamina for the running around like a loon as you dance to someone elses (babies) tune after the birth!

I kept super fit during pregnancy and it made things so much more of a doddle than if I hadn't.

So long as your body is accustomed to exercise anyway, keeping it up is no problem and can only help - just make sure you listen to your body and don't push beyond what it says it is happy with. Darcey Bussell principal ballerina with the Royal Ballet kept up her dancing through her pregnancies and said the same - if it is good enough for her it is good enough for me!

thanks guys for replying will give zumba a go tonight :) been at karate 2 nights in a row and could tell when body/bubs was saying you've done enough lol also will be starting the aquanatal classes our midwifes run when im 16 weeks :)

Excellent! All those people who tell you to take it easy and rest up when pregnant are doing you no favours! Unless you have a reason like SPD etc of course, then it's different, but for a plain-sailing pregnancy it is the last thing to do as it just makes post-birth a total shock to the system, especially if your baby isn't one of the easy ones speaks from bitter experience !

All pregnancy gripes from constipation to breathlessness to back ache etc are all improved by keeping fit so you are doing yourself a favour.

I also reckon being fit was a significant contributory factor, if not the main reason, I got an easy-peasy 6 hour labour for my 1st baby...

Zumba here we come chachachachacha!

Inform your instructor that you are pregnant (even if it's obvious you are)

Remember that (healthy, uncomplicated) pregnancy is not an illness, you don't need to rest up, and as long as you are quite used to lots of activity, there is no need for you to stop exercising AS LONG AS YOUR MIDWIFE IS HAPPY.

Make sure the emphasis is on maintenance rather than development, though, you do NOT want to push yourself AT ALL during your pregnancy. This is because vital blood flow will be prioritised to the working muscles, and will divert away from your baby, so do be sensible.
IME exercise (right up to the day I went into labour) helps with labour, and recovery from birth, and getting your figure back too.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! :o