In my eight months of pregnancy I have heard some crazy, ridiculous and plain untrue things with regards to exercise and pregnancy in particular. Hearing that squats are ‘dangerous’ during pregnancy was probably the most absurd. What makes it an even sillier notion is that the squat position is the best way to give birth, even lying on your back, the traditional hospital sense – if you really picture that position, you’re in a ‘squat’ position too.
Here are 5 reasons you should be squatting throughout your entire pregnancy…
1. Increase Pelvic floor muscle strength:
Squats will help prepare the pelvic floor muscles for birth. This exercise will help strengthen your pelvic floor muscle much better than a kegel exercise! But it’s essential that you perform a squat perfectly. Pay attention to the instructions in this manual in order to ensure that you are squatting correctly. It’s important to squat deep enough – your legs should make a 90 degree angle.
Here are 5 reasons you should make sure you continue squatting throughout your pregnancy…
2. Prevent Back & Pelvic Pain:
Strengthening your glute muscles (butt muscles), helps to decrease lower back and pelvic pain. Strong glutes helps to stabilise your pelvis by supporting your sacroiliac joint. This prevents pain which is often caused by ligaments loosening due to pregnancy hormones relaxin and progesterone.
3. Prepare for labour:
Squats can help you specifically prepare for labour and birth. The exercise mimics positions you can hold to help you cope with contractions in early and late labour, helping baby to descend deeper down into the pelvis.
4. Stronger Birth Positions:
Strengthening leg muscles during pregnancy by performing a variety of squats gives you more endurance in your birthing positions, ones that will allow gravity to assist making the pelvic opening wider which gives baby a bit more room to push through!
5. A great looking butt:
Squats will keep your butt looking toned and tight! That’s always a good thing.
*This is an excerpt from my all new guide. Want to give yourself the best start to your pregnancy journey and an easier labor – you need to get my ‘FABUFIT Pregnancy Workout and Nutrition Guide’.
Click here to buy it now at our special introductory price!
Wardah
Happy Healthy Fabulous
Photography: Hemisha Bhana
