Are Planks Safe During Pregnancy?

Keeping up a regular exercise program is vital for any pregnancy as it contributes to the overall well-being of the mother and the baby. Pregnant women should opt for exercises that are not too strenuous, like walking, swimming, cycling, etc. Many pregnant women wonder whether plank exercises are safe in their condition. The answer to that is yes. Planks can be safely performed during pregnancy, provided you do them right, follow your doctor's guidelines on the best plank exercises suited to your condition, and more importantly not overdo it. If you abide by the rules, planks can prove very beneficial to your health.

Benefits of Planks During Pregnancy
Planks can prove useful for a pregnant woman as doing them regularly can improve stability, increase energy levels, and significantly reduce lower backache, a problem faced by many women especially in the later stages of pregnancy. The best part about planks is that these exercises can be modified to suit a woman's current physical needs. Strengthening the core abdominal muscles is extremely useful as it prepares you for the process of childbirth, making it easier for you to push when you are in labor. Regularly doing planks throughout pregnancy makes it easier for the abdominal muscles, which usually get stressed during labor and childbirth, to heal during the postpartum phase.

Planks also help improve posture. Along with abdominal muscles, these compound exercises also help in toning the muscles in your arms, legs, and the lower back. Doing this exercise poses no risk for the baby, since there is no pressure being exerted on your belly.

How to Perform the Exercise
The basic form of planks is generally considered safe for all pregnant women. To begin, lie face down, with your weight supported on your forearms, and palms outstretched on the floor, facing down. As a rule of thumb, your elbows should be placed shoulder-width apart. Now push your body off the floor and raise your toes. Your body weight should still be supported by your elbows and forearms. Tighten your abdominal muscles by pulling them in. Maintain your back in a straight line, from the tip of your shoulders till the feet. Hold yourself this way for at least 30 seconds. Then lower your body again. Repeat this thrice. For starters, this may seem challenging. Take it easy, by modifying the workout just a little bit. Lower your knees to the ground, and you will find doing the plank now is much easier.

For those women who have mastered the basic plank exercise, advancing to doing the side plank should not prove difficult. To begin, lie on one side, bending the bottom arm at the elbow. The entire weight of your body should be supported on your bottom arm. Keep the legs straight. Your feet should be placed one in front of the other. The positioning ऑफ़, the elbow is crucial, it must be positioned right below the shoulder. Put the free hand on the hip, and push off your torso. Your body should always be in a straight line, not bent anywhere. Hold your body up this way for at least 30 seconds, or more if your endurance level is stronger. Then lower the body again. Repeat this thrice. Switch sides and again repeat three times