CrossFit During Pregnancy and Postpartum

It’s no secret that regular exercise and sound nutrition are beneficial to the human body. Those who have a consistent exercise routine report higher energy levels, less incidence of depression, improved mood, fewer issues with weight control, and better health outcomes in general whether measured by routine blood work or propensity for illness. Specific to pregnancy, regular exercise reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia. It also improves cardiovascular health and reduces the likelihood of excessive weight gain.

In addition to the cardiovascular benefits that come from aerobic exercise, pregnant women who do CrossFit can look forward to maintaining strength and flexibility through their pregnancies, which is helpful for labor and delivery as well as the postpartum period. Continuing to practice functional movements and range of motion in things like squats, lunges, and presses will support the health of an expectant mother’s body during pregnancy and beyond.

Check out the resources below for more insight on doing CrossFit during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

• Is It Safe To Do CrossFit While Pregnant?
• CAP Weekly Education, May 2023 — Training Pregnant and Postpartum Athletes
• Pregnancy and Athletic Performance in CrossFit
• Pregnancy: A Practical Guide for Scaling
• Ask a Coach: Is CrossFit Safe During Pregnancy?
• CrossFit Training During Pregnancy and Motherhood: A New Scientific Frontier
• The High-Performance Pregnancy
• Pregnancy: Perspectives for Trainers
• Pregnant, Not Dead
• Returning to Play After Having a Baby
• Games Athletes Get Real About Postpartum Experience
• Baby on Board
• Six Months Post-Baby, Jessica Core Is Ready
• Service, Family, Fitness: Lilli Pallo’s CrossFit Journey
• A CrossFit Pregnancy: Healthy Mother, Healthy Child
• CrossFit and Pregnancy: Coaching and Scaling Tips
• Double Duty: Arielle Loewen’s Tale of Motherhood and CrossFit Games Redemption