Leah, I am 36 weeks pregnant, I just completed your class, very challenging for a big belly but I did like it a lot

Hi Lise,

Thank you for your comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the class.

Yes, this class may be a bit of a challenge at 36 weeks, but still very safe to do. It was specifically designed for the 2nd trimester. A quick tip: for exercises like the modified Double Leg Stretch, keep one foot down and flat on the mat, this will help with control, stability and you can more easily move around your belly

All the best to you as you are in your final weeks of pregnancy. You can revisit this class after 8 weeks or so postpartum. But please do my 1st postpartum class (I'm wearing a red top) before you do this one.

Take care.

Dear Leah,
could you let me know from which week in the pregnancy on one should stop doing the regular Pilates classes and instead take the special pre-natal classes?
Thanks so much!

Viola,

Great question, thank you! I cannot give you a definitive answer as each woman's body and each pregnancy is a bit different. And continual changes need to be made as a woman progresses through her pregnancy and her body changes. But, as for when the first changes need to be made, which is most likely going to be when a woman should stop performing traditional abdominal work. You'll get some different answers, like the second trimester or right from the beginning.

answer continues in next post.....

In my opinion, it depends really on when she starts showing (for some it's earlier and for some it's later), when the uterus is big enough to start placing a small amount of pressure on the abdominal wall. This is the time to start teaching the modified abdominal exercises and stay away from the "regular" Pilates abdominal exercises. As the pregnancy progresses changes for hip work, spinal articulation (no more Short Spine) and back extension will also need to be made. But, I would start having somebody taking pre-natal classes toward the middle or end of their first trimester.

Hope this helps

Leah

Can you tell me the range this class is safe during pregnancy? I'm 10 weeks - is this class safe for the duration or only up to a certain week of pregnancy? I know there are some exercises that are not safe after a certain period but I am not sure what those are.

Bethany,

Thank you for your question, it's an important one. This class is definitely safe to do at 10 weeks and through your 2nd trimester. Some of the exercises may be challenging as you are into your 3rd trimester, due to the large belly, etc. I wouldn't recommend the entire class during the 3rd trimester, particularly the abdominal exercises, not because they are unsafe, simple because at that point in pregnancy the stability and control are a bit more compromised, making some of the exercises difficult to do with the quality needed. In my other classes I show more exercises and exercise modifications that are appropriate for the 3rd trimester. Keep in mind that when I filmed these classes, I was progressing through my pregnancy and the classes I filmed after this one show the necessary modifications as pregnancy progresses

I am 20 weeks pregnant now with my 2nd child, and I'll be filming several more prenatal classes with PA, so keep an eye out for those as well

Check out my reply to a comment on the first page of the comments for this class and you'll get some more details on why certain abdominal exercises are not recommended for pregnancy. Also, we modify back exercises as we cannot lie on our stomachs after a certain point, and late in pregnancy some balance and leg changing exercises may not be recommended depending on the woman.

I hope that this helps a bit, Bethany

Congrats on your pregnancy this time round Leah! 9 weeks pregnant with my second and found this time round I have just had to switch to pre-natal much earlier than last time (even though I have worked super hard to get back in shape!). Oh well. So pleased THIS time though I have your classes to help as they have helped me so much post-partum (I only discovered PA since my last bith which was less than a year ago!). I can't thank you enough and look forward to a new class soon for when I'm a bit further along! x

Leonie - Congratulations to you too! I'm heading up to PA this weekend to continue my prenatal series. I'll filming several more classes for PA before September. There will be more prenatal equipment/apparatus classes, but also some mat classes for you to try out! So happy that the postnatal classes have been enjoyable for you