When I first saw this picture of Lea-Ann Ellison doing CrossFit a mere two weeks before her due date my initial thought was man, I miss my pregnancy boobs. (That’s about all I miss about pregnancy though. Okay, the boobs and the weird alien kicks that felt like my babies were doing slow-motion roundhouses. For me, just thinking about my pregnancies makes me hot and nauseous. Apparently I’m a sympathetic puker… with myself.)
The longer I looked at Ellison’s many impressive pictures, the more conflicted I became. The truth is that I don’t know how to feel about her being pregnant and doing CrossFit because I still don’t know I feel about me being pregnant and doing CrossFit (and kickboxing and weight lifting and running and a number of other intense exercises).
Pregnancy is not an illness. It’s a motto we hear thrown around a lot these days and while they’re quite correct – there’s nothing pathological about gestating – let’s not pretend that pregnancy doesn’t massively (hah!) change things in your body. At least it did for me:
The first trimester was consumed with overwhelming nausea that was ameliorated only by succumbing to my overwhelming exhaustion. I have seriously never been more tired in my life that I was during my six (!!) first trimesters. I still hit the gym daily but I was definitely not at 100% – unless I was sprinting to the bathroom to puke because some old guy in a cloud of cologne had passed me on the track. And then I fell asleep on the stretching mats.
The second trimester – the one that everyone calls the “golden” part of pregnancy because you’re past the sickness of the first tri but not plagued by the bigness of the third – wasn’t as bad but that was when I had to give up running during Jelly Bean’s pregnancy because of horrible hip flexor pain. All the relaxin hormones were doing their thing and my pelvis became unstable, my balance got thrown off and all my parts just didn’t seem to quite work together anymore. I still worked out but I had to modify even more to accommodate my growing belly. And while I exercised relatively well through the second tri of my three sons’ pregnancies, Jelly Bean’s was much harder. Maybe it was the burden of being my sixth pregnancy. Maybe it’s because I was older. (I was 30, gasp!) But Things just hurt. I was sore a lot and it took me longer to recover. Yet I still pushed through it, working out nearly every day doing a mixture of kickboxing, yoga, weight lifting and – yes – CrossFit.
The third trimester however is where my pride and competitive nature really came out. While I didn’t have any major complications (thank heavens!) by that point I was huge, I wasn’t sleeping well, I had chronic heartburn and my babies all did this thing where they bashed their heads into my cervix which felt like falling straddle-legged on a fence – an electric fence. With my boys I just kinda pushed through it and was proud to say I did a full TurboKick class the day before I went into labor with my 3rd son. But Jelly Bean schooled me. Eight months into it, I was doing TurboKick and – if you were with me back then you’ll remember this fun part – I managed to bounce around so much that I caused myself to start bleeding. I freaked the heck out and for the first time realized that by pushing myself to continue doing my beloved high-intensity workouts, I could actually be putting my baby’s life in jeopardy. And as a woman who had already lost one daughter (although not to exercise – Faith died because of a genetic disorder), that was something I took very seriously.
Suddenly I was taken off all exercise and even told I wasn’t supposed to walk more than absolutely necessary until she was born. This, as you may recall, shattered me. Deprived of my exercise routine I not only lost muscle and endurance but I also lost the endorphin rush I was used to and nearly my entire social group – it was one of the most depressing and anxious times of my life. But I mostly stuck with the doctor’s orders – I did take some slow walks – because in the end Jelly Bean was way more important to me than my fitness was. I distinctly remember Gym Buddy (and doula) Krista reminding me, “What is 9 months out of your whole life, really?” Indeed, taking those couple of months off did not wreck my fitness level nor did I suddenly gain 100 pounds. I eventually lost the baby weight in about the same amount of time it had taken me with the others. It all worked out.
All of this history played through my mind as I read through Ellison’s Facebook page, full of cheerful reminders like “I strongly believe that pregnancy is not an illness, but a time to relish in your body’s capabilities to kick ass!” I love that she has the strength and energy to power through tough CrossFit workouts. And I don’t think she is harming her baby – the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does say that as long as you have no complications, it is safe to continue with your fitness routine through your pregnancy. Plus, all the CrossFit trainers and several CrossFitting pregnant moms that I interviewed for my story for Shape about this told me that CrossFit and other high-intensity workouts can be perfectly safe for healthy, fit women and they’ve seen it done! Plus, some exercise is undeniably beneficial for both mama and babe. But more isn’t always better…
But in all the discussion of Ellison’s controversial pictures, one comment has stuck with me the most. Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of St. Louis University School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health as well as the lead author of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ guidelines for exercise and pregnancy, after detailing the many ways that CrossFit could potentially be dangerous to a pregnant woman, told CNN, “What’s important to point out is that individuals may get away with this activity and nothing will happen,” he says. “What’s difficult for doctors to predict is which mother will have a problem.”
Ellison, it seems, is one of the individuals who can get away with it. I wasn’t. So perhaps I’m just jealous. (Plus you know she’s going to snap back like a rubber band.) Or maybe I’m sad that pregnant women’s bodies still elicit so much judgement. Perhaps we should be both celebrating that Ellison can be knocked-up Superwoman as well as reassuring women like me that it’s also okay if we’re just ordinary mortals. Pregnancy, like workouts, affect every woman differently. I do think each pregnant woman’s health is between her and her doctor and that’s it. The point isn’t to shame anyone into exercising more or exercising less – the point is to have a healthy baby and however that happens is good, right?
And so I remain conflicted. Should I be proud of exercising through all my pregnancies? Even though, looking back, I wish I hadn’t put so much pressure (physically and mentally) on myself? After all, it is just 9 months – just because we can be Superwoman when we’re pregnant – we’re strong and tough and brave in ways both physical and not – does that mean we should be? I don’t know the answer to that.
What do you think of the controversy over Ellison? Is this a fab example of the power of women, in all stages of life? Or is it one more example of how society pushes extreme standards on us? If you’ve had kids, what was your fitness strategy when you were pregnant?
My 2 cents. I have two kids. During the first pregnancy I learned quite early on that the myth about cherishing and spoiling a pregnant woman is a myth. Nobody, not even my husband, carried me around holding with one hand and scattering rose petals on a red carpet before me with the other. I felt quite hurt that I didn’t get any special treatment and people were more annoyed than amazed. I was the first of my friends to get pregnant, so when my other friends got pregnant many years later, I told each and every one of them that I would be personally offended if they did not put special effort into making sure that everyone around them, especially the men, would be at their beck and call helping and indulging, and adoring, and nursing poor weak exhausted nauseous bloated aching miracles of nature. For most women who don’t behave like bitches/divas there’s not a lot of time in their lives when they are really entitled and expected to take it easy. Pregnancy and very old age are about the only times. So when I see a woman just throwing her birthright out of the window, I’m kinda annoyed – because she’s spoiling the fun for all the other women as well. If we are not weak even at this time, then women’s work can never ever be done. (And if there’s even a tiny risk factor, then why do it?) (Sure I’m jealous.)
Too true about there being VERY few times a woman is allowed to be “weak.” Pregnancy always felt so vulnerable to me, too.
I had my first baby two and a half months ago. I worked out four-five days a week during my pregnancy, naively believing that maintaining my fitness would guarantee a natural, textbook perfect delivery and minimize the amount of stretch marks I got (ha!). At 38 weeks I had an emergency c-section that rendered me incapable of nearly any physical activity for six weeks and wreaked havoc on my emotions. I am five weeks out from my recovery period and am struggling to find time and energy to work out as hard as I want to/am used to working out. I wish I could say her CrossFit pregnancy body is inspiring to me, but the first thing I did (at 2:00 am while feeding my baby) when I saw the picture was compare my postpartum body to it and feel terribly unfit. I applaud her for being and staying super-fit, but think that she’s an aberration and adding to pressure women feel to look fit–during pregnancy and otherwise.
Man, I wish I could reach through the computer and give you a big ol’ hug!! I so know that feeling – it seems like nothing with kids goes how I plan it, starting at birth;) I’m not going to tell you not to compare yourself – I know how hard that is not to – but I am going to tell you that you are in one of the hardest parts and it DOES get better. A lot better:)
I swam a lot through both pregnancies and took prenatal pool aerobics. You can go all-out in the pool without worrying about hurting anything.
True!! You know me, I hate swimming. But even I did some nice pool workouts when I was preggers!
I agree with you, I think each person and each pregnancy is different.
So what works for one person doesn’t have to work for another. It seems to me that it’s important for each woman to live as healthy as possible, and it would be for her (and the doctor) to decide what that implies for her.
So I think that when you feel capable of heavy exercising during your pregnancy you should, and if you don’t and feel the need to take it easy you should do that.
Either way, it’s up to each individual personally
This makes me annoyed for some reason. I tried SO hard to get pregnant. This last year has been so hard- 4 IVFS (i have celiac and multiple autoimmune diseases which made my pituitary gland function poorly-no ovulation) Fitness is my identity. I have taught for over 10 years and LOVE IT! But when doctors told me to cut it to only walking and yoga, I did. And when they said bed rest after IVF transfers- I did. It killed me, but I did. I had two miscarriages this year, one failed, and FINALLY one took and I am in my 14th week! I know everyone is different, but I can’t even imagine doing ANYTHING that could potentially risk harming my baby- can’t we put our own compulsive needs to the side for 10 months?? Believe me, I am back in the gym doing elliptical, light weights, and yoga- I don’t think you need to sit on your ass and not move- but there is moving and then there is being stupid. Just my two cents.
Congratulations!
Squeeeee! I love other people’s pregnancies:) And a huge congrats for you – it sounds like you’ve been through a harrowing journey and I hope that everything goes smoothly for you from here on out! Keep me posted:))
Awww thanks so much!!
So happy for you!! Been there with the IVF. Had overhyperstimulation (sp?) and was super conscious of ALL movement for weeks after being allowed up and about. Nearly 14 years later, it was worth all the care and concern I poured into my pregnancy. Blessings to you and hope you enjoy this time. And ignore everyone else and trust your instincts on motherhood. For example: you cannot hold a baby too much and the house will not self-destruct from too many dustbunnies.
I think each person is different and will be able to handle different things, but I think Ellison is amazing and inspiring. I don’t have any kids yet but I hope to and I hope that I can continue my interval training workouts during it. But do feel it is an individual based thing. And for those that can workout during pregnancy that is awesome.
Sigh. I’m so sick of seeing this article! I’ve been CrossFitting for 5 years. I did CrossFit up through 39 weeks in my first pregnancy. I did CrossFit 2-3x a week up through 30 weeks with my second. I stopped mainly because I was too tired to go to the gym early AM.
I listened to my body and if anything felt even slightly funky, I stopped the move and never did it again. I dialed back my intensity and took rest breaks. I dropped my weights down to 50-75% of what I would normally use. I traded out moves that were not feasible with ones that worked better for my changing body. It wasn’t a big deal and I wasn’t really trying to prove anything.
I take issue with the fact that no one knows exactly what kind of workout this woman is doing anyway. How much weight is on that bar? It could be 35#. If she overhead squats 95# normally, then 35# is nothing and hardly “extreme” for her. Would people feel differently if she were on the Nautilis machine at the gym? Is it just because your average gym goer is not used to seeing women do lifts like this?
Lastly, the doc quoted in the CNN article talks about the dangers of lifting more than 15lbs. Really?!? My 5 month old weighs 14lbs and she’s on the light side. I doubt mothers of multiple children refrain from picking up their other babies for 9 months when they are pregnant. I certainly picked up my 35 lb 3-yr old from time to time. The danger just cannot be that real for most (not all) women.
The real troublesome point for me is that in all this “concern” for women and babies during pregnancy, is that no one cares about the woman the minute she delivers. Then she is expected to immediately lose the weight, breastfeed, return to work after limited paid leave, cook, clean, etc with no regard to her mental or physical well-being. All of these things directly affect her ability to care for the baby. Ask me how I know! 😉
Sorry for the long post!
so true, I lol at 15 lbs, 140 beats per minute old school recommendations…silly doc
Amen!
Love this post keyalus! Well said.
All of this! Totally agree with everything you said here! Well put! 🙂
Well said – all of it:) First – I love that you said this: “I listened to my body and if anything felt even slightly funky, I stopped the move and never did it again. ” I think that is the difference between you and I – I kept pushing even when it hurt. (sigh.) Second – good point about not knowing her actual workouts. I assumed that the bar was an Olympic bar but who knows, right? And even if it is, if she’s comfortable doing it then it’s not “extreme.” I hope that she’s more like you and less like me! Third – excellent point about the “concern” for a pregnant woman… until she delivers. This so sad but so very true. Thank you for your perspective!! (And congrats on a healthy pregnancy and babe!)
We have bars at my affiliate that all look very much like the pictured bar but weigh 15#, 35# or 45#.
I would like to point out: why must we all be reading so much into this and why are so many ready to cast judgement based on how it makes them feel about themselves? We REALLY need to stop comparing our weaknesses to others strengths! I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and I do not in any way wish I could work out like that right now. I started having sciatic nerve pain at 5 weeks and though I am not far in, I waddle like I’m nearly done. I do what i can and i am proud of myself for it because i am doing MY personal best.
*steps off my soapbox*
Love your attitude Shari! I wish I’d been that wise:)
I am going to chide you gently at the comment “you know she is going to snap back like a rubber band”. Do we really know that? What if she doesn’t? And should it matter? Being jealous of her strength or her ability to exercise is one thing (still
Irrational as it is something you have no control over) but why does every discussion of pregnant women have to talk about them “bouncing back” (or not)?
Chiding well taken:) You’re right. Old habits die hard…
I think it’s awesome. I think women who walk or swim or cycle in pregnancy are also awesome.
I did not exercise during my first pregnancy at all. I ran my entire 2nd pregnancy. I felt SOOOOO much better during the pregnancy, but I don’t know if it had much impact on my labor and delivery (my first was quick @ 5hrs, my second was a bit quicker @ just under 3.5hrs). I’m now exercising through my 3rd pregnancy and I focus more on strength and interval training than steady-state running. And on eating well (which I’ve redefined for myself since last time).
I make my choices based on what works for me and makes me feel good. I dislike the idea that my choices have the power to make someone else feel some kinda way about theirs.
I think this sentence from Amber sums up my thoughts beautifully:
I dislike the idea that my choices have the power to make someone else feel some kinda way about theirs.
Thanks Amber !
I agree, this is a wonderful sentiment: ” I dislike the idea that my choices have the power to make someone else feel some kinda way about theirs.” I think the difference though between most of us and Lea-Ann Ellison’s example is how public it’s become. It isn’t so much HER choices that people are reacting too as much as all the reactions to her choices, if that makes any sense. It’s taken on a life of it’s own and brought to light some interesting societal expecatations about pregnant women that, I think, have remained mostly unspoken until she started the conversation. (Which I think is always a good thing!) In my eyes, she was more the catalyst than the reaction;)
I feel annoyed when people judge others for diong what they feel is right period, one way or antoher. Each woman/pregnancy/kids, etc. is different. People commetn becasue you work out, or you don’t, why are you not breastfeeding, etc.
My very fit personal trainer was on bed rest around 26 weeks, but ran until then (twin pregnancy), I worked out till the last month only coz I didn’t ahve access to my gym furing mat leave. Was doing pull ups that last day. don’t get out of breath, over extend joints, adn don’t lift too hevy, if you have a non-complicated preganncy, why not.
Can’t breastfeed coz you ahfd a breast reduction, formula feed!
Want to co-sleep coz it works for you, go for it.
Spread the love people, be kind and respectful. For her, NOT risky…
“Be kind and respectful” – best advice ever:)
I’m currently 6 weeks away from my due date with my first, so naturally I was quite interested in reading this article. I came away with conflicting opinions as well. My first thought was, “She has probably never suffered a pregnancy loss.” May be true, may not be true, but I think those of us who have had miscarriage tend to be a lot more protective of their pregnancies. My second thought was, “How does she do it?”
I never did specifically Crossfit as a fitness program, but I’ve done high-intensity training, p90X, Olympic lifts, heavy weight training, running, mountain climbing long-distance cycling… you name it. The minute I became pregnant, my uber-fit body found tons of ways of telling me to slow down and take a break. I still lift, but my lifts became easily 1/3 lighter than when I wasn’t pregnant. Almost immediately, perhaps 7 weeks in, I found my stamina and endurance were such that almost all cardio was 1/3 slower and often 1/3 shorter in duration. I listened carefully to my body, and it was telling me loud and clear that exercise was good but not a priority in this baby-building business.
I guess my one question for her would be her motivation. Is she listening to her body carefully, or just trying to fulfill some inner drive to have a new PR on a lift or to “show them all it can be done”? If she feels healthy and her doctor sees no problems, I suppose I have no right to judge. Every pregnancy is different, so I know I can’t bias my opinion of her on my own experiences of needing to back off in the gym.
I had 2 miscarriages before my first…and still worked out till the end with the 2 term pregnancies afterwards… agree with what you said, especially with stamina… I found out I was pregnant (ie decided to test) because of how I felt working out…at 5 weeks! Oh and when te nausea kicked…and heartburn trying to plank!
I love everything about this comment! You summed up my conflicted feelings so much better than I did! And I’m so glad that you did this: “I listened carefully to my body, and it was telling me loud and clear that exercise was good but not a priority in this baby-building business.” Congrats on a healthy pregnancy and you have all my well wishes for a safe, quick delivery! Keep me posted – I love other people’s pregnancies!!
When I see the pics, I am conflicted, too. I don’t think I’m questioning whether or not she is being safe/smart, etc. Like you said, if she’s handling it w/ no problems, then great. I think I don’t like this new attitude of glorifying how far a pregnant woman can push it. Like the doc said, you don’t know who can/can’t handle it until it might be too late. Just as we glorify celebs who drop their baby weight in one week (or is it a day?!), I think this is the wrong way to celebrate healthy pregnancies.
Very well said. ” I think I don’t like this new attitude of glorifying how far a pregnant woman can push it.”
If it works for her, great! We’re all different, and need to do what is best for ourselves & our li’l ones. There is no one-size-fits-all, especially with pregnancy and childbirth.
I gave birth 10 and 12 years ago, when the advice was quite different. I kept a diligent eye on my pulse rate, went very easy on ab work, and did mainly prenatal yoga, swimming, and walking.
And no one treated me specially either, darn it! I was looking forward to being spoiled, just a LITTLE bit, but noooooooo! 🙂
Aw, every preggo lady deserves some special treatment;)
Each generation is given different guideline by the medical community. Think of all the women in past years who birthed a child and continued working that very same day! The body is truly capable of a lot more than most of us imagine. Would I CrossFit in my third trimester …No.
Should others? Not my decision.
So true – things changed drastically even between my first pregnancy (when I was told to keep my heart rate under 140 bpm) and my sixth (when I was told to do whatever didn’t hurt), lol.
I HATED being treated like an invalid during my pregnancies. I hated when people asked how I’m feeling every time I talked to them. So I understand her desire to keep things normal. And sure, everyone has different fitness levels, so maybe this was cutting back for her. So it’s hard to be mad at her for it, but I can’t say that I’m convinced it was a good choice. I bet it made her happier while pregnant though, and we’ll do pretty much anything to keep a pregnant woman happy!
Too funny – I loved it when people asked me how I was feeling! What I hated most was when they asked me how much weight I’d gained. As if there’s ever an appropriate time to ask a woman that!
I’ve been waiting for you to blog about this! The way I look at it is that every pregnancy is different. You have to take every pregnancy, every month, every week and every day as it comes. With my first I ran until I was 8 months. With my second I had horrible separated pelvis problems starting at week 16. I couldn’t even turn over in bed. With this pregnancy I have been so sick almost all the way through some days I can barely shower. You need to be smart about it. If I can hardly manage a shower, I am NOT going to work out that day. On the days I feel better, I do what I can. Some pregnancies are just lucky; you feel strong and good and happy and you can do more. Some pregnancies suck. And you never know when complications may arise, (right, Charlotte?) so you have to be prepared to put your baby first. I don’t mind the working out, coming from a fellow fitness fanatic, it just bugs me that she felt the need to post pictures of herself. Just carry on with what you’re doing and stop showing off. Oh, and for people who say pregnancy isn’t an illness? They’ve never had all-day sickness for 9 months! This is as ill as I’ve ever been for as long as I’ve ever been in all my life! (Just around 3 weeks left, though! Hooray! I’m so looking forward to labor if it means I’ll feel better!)
Ah I wish I could reach through the computer and give you a hug!! I’m so so sorry you’ve been so sick! I’m kind of a puker in my pregnancies but thankfully it goes away around week 14 although I did have to be on Zofran for one pregnancy. Kudos to you for doing it again even after the separated pelvis (owowowowow)! And best wishes for a speedy, safe, pain-free delivery!! Keep me posted – I love other people’s pregnancies:)
Though I think it’s kinda weird to see a pregnant woman doing this, I wouldn’t want to judge her or comment negatively as I know she is smart enough to know what is dangerous for her and her baby. Maybe she is just part of the few who many of us can’t do. 🙂
Just a simple question, Why is it that cross fitters will refuse to wear gloves and take enough pride in the abuse they put their hand through to take pics and post them on face book, yet they make sure they wear shin protection against the off chance the barbell might scratch up their shins? last I checked the hand was a lot more important than the skin on the shin. Just wondering.
But on the note of the article, there’s just way too much opinion out there about what’s healthy or not and what people should and should not be doing. My health didn’t start to improve until I stopped being opinionated and critical of other’s and started actually paying attention to what my own body was really telling me.
Thanks again Charlotte!
Haha – I never thought of it that way Matt!! I always wear gloves when I crossfit (saves my hands plus they make me feel kinda tough) but I guess I assumed all the knee-high socks were their fashion statement, not so much for shin protection! But I never asked so who knows?!
And this: ” My health didn’t start to improve until I stopped being opinionated and critical of other’s and started actually paying attention to what my own body was really telling me.” is brilliant advice. So true.
From my limited knowledge and understanding of crossfit, and from several article I have read recently on Huffington Post, it sounds like there are two ways of doing it – one would be knowing when to stop, and the other would be pushing yourself until you collapse and/or puke and/or destroy your muscles. I just read a terrifying article on how a physical therapist gave herself rhabdomyolysis from pushing herself too far during a partner crossfit workout, and has damaged her arm muscles so much that she can no longer function properly. A picture that came up when I googled this condition scared the bleep out of me – it requires surgically slicing open the muscle. Kidney damage doesn’t sound like too much fun, either.
I’m assuming that Ellison is in the former group?
I hope she is! Rhabdo is nothing to mess around with – that is terrifying!
“What’s difficult for doctors to predict is which mother will have a problem.”
But this is true about everything in pregnancy, not just exercise. Should we just lock all pregnant women in padded rooms, just in case?
True. But I think we’re talking about different levels of risk… Although I probably could have used the padded room, frankly;)
I firmly believe it is up to each individual and their doctor/midwife. I just think it needs to be for the right reasons. It shouldn’t be about looks and weight and how I will look after. It should be about doing what feels right and good for each mother. It is such a short amount of time, in the long run, that doing it for the wrong reasons (because society says we should, or we need to look amazing after birth, etc), just isn’t fair to the child you are trying to bring to life.
Just my thoughts as I am 7 days away from having my 3rd baby, and didn’t really exercise with any of them. I am very competitive and active when I’m not pregnant, so I relished this time to take it easy. But that was my choice.
I love that you are relishing your down time! It sounds like you made the best choice for you. And a huge congrats on your pregnancy! You have all my well-wishes for a quick, safe and pain-free (well, as much as that’s possible) labor!! Keep me posted – I love other people’s pregnancies:)
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I agree with many of the comments posted. Indeed, every pregnancy is unique and it is SO important to truly listen to what your body needs. However, much of the focus of the conversation has been centered around the pregnancy and mom. What about the concequences of high intenisty work on the baby? The fact is that there have been limited studies done on the impact of heavy lifting and Metcon style workouts during pregancy. In traditional cultures, pregnant women were often encouraged to AVOID intense activities. They could still gather, walk and generally be active with life activities but heavy lifting and difficult chores were often off limits.
There is also some interesting new research looking at the epigenetic consequences of crossfit style workouts on long term childhood health. From a purely scientific perspective, when we do a full crossfit style workout we deprive the placenta of oxygen and nutrients which can affect both the short term and long term health of the developing baby….it’s something to consider and in the long run, if you have to do crossfit, honest scaling will be key to maintaining good health for you and your little bean!