Intensities for Pregnant Athletes

I feel quite honored to write for such a powerhouse magazine that reaches and educated so many coaches. WODTalk has given me a platform to share the greatness and normalcy of pre and postnatal exercise!

The April issue featured my article on intensities appropriate for pregnant athletes of all athleticisms. Coaches can then appropriately program for whoever walks through their doors. Read a snippet below! Read the full article here and share this link!

“Great news for all you women who want to bear children! Research shows active females can continue to perform at high levels of maximal heart rate without adverse side affects to mom or baby in utero.

So why do so many doctors, midwives and other humans still poo-poo ‘intense’ exercise during pregnancy?

Because they’re ill-informed. And afraid. Let the education begin!

First, lets get clear. Just because pregnant women can continue to train at high percentages of maximal heart rate, doesn’t mean they should do it for hours on end or day to day. Pregnancy is not a time to get PRs, it’s a time to maintain fitness levels and surrender to the sweet waves of growing a human inside you.

Pregnant athletes can train at a perceived exertion of “somewhat hard” which is a 3 to 5 on the Borg 1 to 10 scale (5). ACSM states that developing and maintaining fitness requires higher activity, 60% to 90% of maximal heart rate.” ….Read on.