27/08/2026
As a Women’s Health Physio, I am so tired of hearing women being told to "just go lighter" the second they get pregnant.🤰
Let’s be real for a minute: somewhere along the line, the fitness industry started treating pregnancy like a weakness. You walk into a room, announce you are expecting, and suddenly everyone wants to strip the weight off, hand you 1kg pink dumbbells, and treat you like you’re made of glass.
I’m here to tell you that pregnant does not mean fragile.
Yes, your body is changing. And yes, we absolutely make smart modifications. We change your setup to make room for your growing bump, and we swap out things like heavy max-out lifts or intense intra-abdominal pressure movements to protect your pelvic floor and midline.
But modifying your movement is NOT the same thing as taking all the load away.
Physiologically, your body is doing superhuman work right now. Your blood volume increases by up to 50%, your heart is working harder, and your muscles are totally capable of lifting real weight.
Global obstetric guidelines back this up completely—training up to a 7/10 effort (RPE) during an uncomplicated pregnancy is safe, backed by research, and so good for you.
Why? Because relaxin is loosening your ligaments, which means your muscles actually need to step up to keep your joints stable. Plus, labor is a massive athletic event, and carrying a newborn, a heavy pram, and a capsule requires serious physical strength!
If your pregnancy is uncomplicated and your medical team has given you the green light, stop limiting your workouts out of fear.
You don't have to default to light weights just because you have a baby on board. Train smart, listen to your body, but keep building that capacity. You are so much stronger than the fitness myths make you think🤍