Pilates / reformer Pilates in first trimester? To do or not to do?

[IslayBrigid]

Hi everyone. I have heard from Google and a doctor that Pilates are perfectly fine to do when pregnant in first trimester. Second trimester apparently one needs to modify. BUT I would love to hear first hand from women who have done Pilates in their first trimester and that it was OK?

I'm only 6+3 and I have booked into Pilates tomorrow which I'm looking fwd to. Is my first time I've been back since becoming pregnant but I used to go relatively regularly. It does seem like a LOT of abdominal work - could this harm new fetus that is still adjusting to the womb?? Or is it good for general strength? It always makes me feel good and imagine core strength is good, but when I was looking up yoga a few weeks ago some websites said to avoid core exercises so I'm a bit confused.

Any tales of experience much appreciated :)

yes it was fine for me. good idea in fact.
Just tell your instructor.

It's a no from me. I would not take any chances, Pilates reformer work is very intensive.

I book myself onto pilates classes that are specfically designed for pregnancy. I love it. Is this a possibility for you?

It was fine for me. By the second trimester I was doing so many modifications it was silly to be in class so I stopped.

I carried on pilates I just told my instructor and we didn't do any abdominal work etc. It's all ok for you just if something were to go wrong, the blame might fall on them. Just tell them and they'll be able to adapt things for you

I went to reformer Pilates whole of the first trimester with only minor modifications (mostly to limit crunching and twisting). I’m allowed to go until end of second trimester but will play by ear as it’s expensive so won’t do it if I’m quite limited. I had ivf and my gynae actually told me to do pilates when I said my back was twinging in first few weeks, admittedly she may not have had in mind the medieval torture rack that is the reformer 😆

Hi! I did reformer Pilates through my whole pregnancy (last session was 2 days before DD was born!). I did one on one sessions so could adapt as we went but there was really very little to change while in 1st trimester, only things I avoided were deep twists and stomach down on the barrel. Keep going as long and as much as you feel up to - I'm sure it made my birth and recovery much better!

Thank you all so much for your replies! Really helpful to hear. Yes it's definitely quite intense but I'm hoping with a few modifications it'll be fine to keep going as it is so good for strength. I didn't end up going yesterday as the timing didn't work in the end but I think I'll go next week :)