Many women who are currently, or who are planning to become pregnant wonder whether their martial arts training, and exercise in general, will have to be put on hold until after the birth of their child.
In most pregnancies, many styles of martial arts training and exercise in general can be continued, with some necessary modifications of course.
Any ground fighting arts will most likely be out of the question. Besides the fact that you will be unable to grapple for obvious reasons, extended time spent lying flat on your back can be harmful for the baby after the first trimester. Lying flat on your back can reduce the flow of blood to the placenta.
One thing to be cautious of is overheating. Try to keep your body temperature and heart rate down to a moderate level. The goal of exercising or training during pregnancy is not to go for intense workouts or to increase what you were already doing, but to simply stay healthy and active. Overheating during pregnancy can be dangerous to your developing baby.
Take frequent breaks and be sure to drink plenty of water.
During pregnancy, your joints tend to be more loose than normal. You should take care when practicing to avoid falls, sprains and strains. Avoid any jumping techniques.
Take note of any feelings of light headedness, shortness of breath, pain or any other symptoms of that nature. Listen to your body and rest when you need to rest. Tone down your training as you head into your third trimester. Most importantly, follow all your doctor’s instructions regarding physical activity.
In general, the best plan to continue your training would include cardiovascular training, light resistance training and taking the time to drill and perfect your techniques, drills and forms/katas. Stay healthy, keep your techniques sharp and enjoy your time while you wait for the arrival of your little one! Staying active can actually help you have an easier labor.
Hope this article helps to all our members who are pregnant or planing on it.
Cheers.
Rosie Kielty
Great information about martial arts especially to womens very good.Actually i am looking the information like this.