Stomach Exercises while preg & past bleeding??

[Ngala]

I've just recently bought a DVD called Preggie Bellies.. Pretty much its a exercise DVD that is specialised in pregnancy exercise. At the end you have to do some sit ups and the instructors (who are physiotherapists and mothers of 3) say that working the stomach muscles are important in pregnancy because they are needed to help support the growing belly and that doing exercises that dont involve some stomach work is very unbalanced. All through the exercises you need to 'brace' your stomach muscles too, and this is done by lightly pulling your belly button towards your spine.

The situps that they do on the DVD are on a fitball. I will try and explain how they do it... Pretty much you sit on the fit ball, and hold your arms out in front for balance. You brace your tummy and they start doing doing something that they call pelvic tilts. Pretty much you just tilt your pelvis back and forth while bracing your tummy. You then go down, no more than half way slowly at 3 counts and then release and go back up and then continue a few more times. You can also go down half way and hold for 5-8 counts and then come back up and go again.

I would think that doing tummy exercises is a lot more easier/better on a fitball than on the floor because your have your feet holding you steady and you are sitting in the first place and moving back a little bit, not going from the floor and up.

I've been only doing this exercise for a week now and have not had any problems what so ever.

I just remembered another exercise that may be useful for you... This one is called Bracing. You get down on your hands and knees (put a rolled up towel under your knees if its a bit sore) and keep your back straight. You then brace your tummy, you do this by pulling your belly button in towards your spine. You brace for 8 counts and then relax and then go up again. While doing this you can even hold your pelvic floor muscles.

I hope this helps!! If you are a little confused, send me an email to my hotmail account and I will try and explain better and maybe get some pictures!!