Pregnancy and Prenatal Fitness

Megan Holcombe is a steadfast CORE57 member and a new mother. So, we asked her, “What’s the best way to ensure a smooth delivery?” and Megan said, “Joining CORE57.”

Megan’s Prenatal Fitness Journey

Megan’s trainers at CORE57 were some of the first to know about her pregnancy. Her trainer Tammy Thomson says, “When Megan found out she was pregnant, she sent a message to the trainers, even before letting her family know. That was a hard secret to keep since her mother-in-law is a member! She let us know that she would need to ease back on workouts.”

Even with an entirely new challenge before her, Megan wanted to stay active throughout her pregnancy. She says, “The trainers at CORE helped me get stronger, so I was ready to tackle labor head-on. I worked out (with some modifications) up until the week I gave birth.”

“The result?” She says. “Delivering my baby in just four pushes.”

Modifications for Mommy-To-Be

Of course, those workout modifications provided by trainers at CORE57 were a key component of Megan’s prenatal fitness. “She used to do metabolic conditioning workouts and lift heavier weights,” Tammy shares. “She stopped the higher impact exercises and lowered her weights a little bit. As the pregnancy progressed and she could not lay flat on her back, she would do things like presses on the bench at an incline instead of the floor. She became a pro at doing core exercises standing instead of on the floor.”

“I was always trying to modify more than she wanted to,” Tammy says. “Pushups were in the workout one day, and I looked over and she had lined two benches up. She could put her hands on the benches and do pushups with her belly hanging down between them. Megan was in such good shape before she became pregnant, which really helped her to keep working out, even if it was at a lower intensity.”

After she gave birth, Megan says, “My midwives asked if I was an athlete because they had never seen a first-timer sail through the process so quickly. That is truly a testament to the strong foundation you can build at CORE57!”

Returning to the Gym Postpartum

Trainer Tammy Thomson has advice for those who, like Megan, are pregnant and wanting to prioritize fitness. “Keep working out!” she says. “Even if it is at a lower intensity, keep moving. Focus more on strength training.”

For those postpartum, Tammy adds, “When you're ready to jump back in, remember to give yourself a little grace and start slow. I remember coming back after my babies, and it feels like you have lost all of your fitness, but it will come back. It just takes a little time. Your body can do amazing things!”

Expecting? Join us at CORE57 to get expert help with prenatal fitness throughout your pregnancy journey.