What excersise is good?

[LucyB1]

Hi all, I'm 5 weeks pregnant and like everyone else am terrified of anything going wrong. I am fairly fit and want to make sure i pop back into shape as quickly as possible after baby arrives. i have been advised by a gym instructor to give up spin as its quite intense and will make me too hot and I am unsure about ab work (plank / crunches etc)... just feels wrong. Does anyone have any advice?

You're definitely not meant to do planks, unfortunately- i love my planking! To be honest until after week 12 i'm just walking/swimming/doing light weights.. after week 12 i intend on going back to body pump though, albeit with lighter weights. I'm also starting pre natal yoga once a week.
I'm also determined to keep fit. ANd not to gain 4 stone!
There's a thread somewhere here about Prego DVDs too, i must get one.

I've heard that you can do planks (that's what my antenatal physio said anyway!) but not sit ups as lying on your back isn't good. The key is to keep doing what you've always done and not take up anything new. I'd get a second opinion on the spinning as I've had two spinning instructors who taught to the end of their pregnancies. I've had to give it up as I've had problems with my tailbone (and the bike seat exacerbates it) but kept up with everything else and am still doing pump, combat and body attack at 25 weeks. In the first trimester it's important not to overheat as that's bad for the baby (that could be what your instructor was referring to) but you could always work at a lower intensity than the rest of the class.

Really Cardia- that's interesting about the planks! Will ask my gynae when i go so- i just assumed they werent allowed as i'd 'read it online'.. Would love to continue doing daily planks if i could. Such a great way to keep a trim core.