Upper/Middle Back
Best Machines: Seated cable row,
lat pulldown
Pregnancy Benefit: As your breasts
get bigger, your shoulders round
forward. Strengthening the muscles between your shoulder blades
helps counteract the slump.
Chest
Best Machine: Seated chest-press
Pregnancy Benefit: It’s important to create muscle balance in your upper body
by working your pecs.
Arms/Shoulders
Best Machines: Biceps and triceps
Pregnancy Benefit: Strong
arms. Soon you’ll be schlepping
a baby, a diaper bag—and the
groceries.
Lower body
Best Machines: Leg extension
and seated leg-curl
Pregnancy Benefit: Your quadriceps and hamstrings bear the
weight of your pregnancy as your
belly grows.
Core
Best Exercise: Plank
Pregnancy Benefit: Keeping your abs
strong will help prevent pregnancy-induced back pain.
How to: Lower onto all fours so your
wrists are directly under your shoulders. Lift your knees off the floor (don’t
arch your back) so your body forms a
straight line. Hold for 1 to 2 breaths,
working up to 5 breaths.