Members’
zone
HELEN O’HARA
PERSONAL TRAINER
“
Exercise
during
pregnancy
forms a
good habit,
meaning
mums are
more likely
to continue
after giving
birth.”
This is your area to
share your expertise.
This might be in relation
to a recent feature in the
magazine or an area in
which you feel your
fellow fit pros might
benefit from your
experience.
Send your story to:
editor@UKCoaching.org
Responding to our recent pregnancy
feature, Helen wanted to share her vast
experience in this complex area.
The most important thing to
remember as an expecting
mum is to listen to your body,
and for the trainer to listen to
their client. Emphasis should
be put on the benefits of
exercise not only to reduce
maternal weight gain but to
feel good, maintain good
posture while supporting the
growing bump, be stronger
for labour, and maintaining or
improving muscular strength
to reduce aches and pains.
Training during the first
trimester is often the hardest
as a woman is most likely to
feel fatigue/nausea due to
the hormonal changes. It's
best to assess with the client
at what point during the day
they feel at their best and
train as close to that point
as possible.
It is important to also
consider how much exercise
your client does or has done
prior to their pregnancy.
Instructors and trainers
should be mindful of relaxin
being prominent in the
ligaments and cartilage
during pregnancy/postnatal
and advise their clients that
weight-bearing exercise
should be completed
from a stable base with
a professional.
Good nutrition and hydration
are essential. Missing a meal
due to feeling sick will have a
knock-on effect if a client has
a session booked that day.
I would argue that all
expecting and new mums
should take part in some
form of exercise, as indeed
should the general
population, however I believe
the message should focus
on the benefits of exercise
rather than simply avoiding
weight gain.
www.helenoharapt.co.uk
@REPsUK
FM
7