Sheila Sim, Angela Lee and other fit celeb mums on exercising while pregnant

Exercise can be beneficial when there’s a little one in your womb, including helping mums-to-be to reduce aches and increasing strength and endurance to prepare for labour. Below, five fit celeb mums share their take on exercising safely while pregnant. One thing that all of them agree on? Don’t rush things, listen to your doctor, and your body.

Sheila Sim, model and actress

“My gynaecologist said I had to avoid exercise during the first trimester as the baby had just been implanted in the womb. But afterward, up until two weeks ago, I swam, did yoga and pilates, and went trekking. I also bonded with my parents through some of these activities – I wanted them to feel involved throughout the pregnancy. So that was nice.”

“I think pregnancy isn’t a good time to pick up a new habit, especially if you aren’t usually active. But I feel that swimming is a good exercise for mums-to-be as it’s less impactful on the joints. I love the water as it gives me a sense of peace.”

Angela Lee, former professional MMA fighter

“Yes, I did continue to work out during my pregnancy but I adjusted the intensity and frequency as I got further along. Every woman is different. Our bodies are different and our babies are different.

I think that we should definitely be the ones to judge what we can do and at what pace. I would only recommend that they make sure the exercises they are doing are what they feel confident doing. It is completely ok for women to want to work out, diet, and lose the baby weight but it’s also completely ok for women to be comfortable and happy with their bodies.”

“(After giving birth) Take it slow, make a plan but be flexible. It may be hard to stick to a specific schedule because, with a baby, so many things pop up! Give yourself lots of grace and be proud of the effort you’re making!”

Alicia Pan, singer and founder of Yoga Movement

“It is important not to overheat the body, as well as overstretch or overwork areas such as the hips. Always go for supported variations while doing yoga poses such as deep lunges, especially in the later trimesters.”

“I think it is important to keep the entire body strong, so low-intensity weight training is always helpful. Of course, getting the green light from your doctor is key – and if you’ve never done a specific type of movement or training before, then pregnancy is not the right time to start!”

Brie Benfell, model and co-founder of Thrive Fitness

“I was weight training with my husband (who is a personal trainer and is the founder of Thrive Fitness) until my waters broke at 38 weeks. Fitness is a huge part of my life so I was active throughout. Your doctor will guide you on what you can do as every pregnancy is different. My advice after birth is to take it slow and to listen to your body.”

“I used Anjea (a pregnancy platform she co-founded) workouts my entire pregnancy and after giving birth as they are all targeted for each specific trimester. Trimester four really focuses on re-building strength slowly. We created this as it’s something I could never find! As I got stronger I then started weight training and reformer pilates. After a year postpartum, I started boxing and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).”

Kayla Itsines, founder of the Sweat app and fitness influencer

In an Instagram post in 2019, the fitness entrepreneur and influencer shared her thoughts on ab workouts while pregnant:

“I STILL have some ladies asking me about ab workouts during #pregnancy. I have NOT been trying to target or isolate my abs (and do NOT recommend it due to safety)! My #activepregnancy routine is very different from my “normal” routine! During this pregnancy, my focus has been on walking, postural work, and light workouts (when I can fit them in). I’m happy because weight gain is on track and WELL within what is “safe” and expected for pregnancy. I will re-assess my workout routine #postpregnancy and when cleared by my doctor will start making re-introducing abdominal training. Until then ladies, NO ab workouts for me.”

This article was originally published in Singapore Women’s Weekly.