Motherhood Meets Medicine

101. Exercising during Pregnancy with Dr. Mae Hughes


Listen Later

There are lots of myths about exercising while pregnant that are not supported by evidence. Today, Dr. Mae Hughes is on the podcast to help debunk some of those myths. We also discuss the benefits of exercising while pregnant, along with what type of exercises are safe for pregnant and postpartum women.

Dr. Mae Hughes is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a mama to a new little girl, and a fitness fiend who’s passionate about helping women feel empowered during every part of their pregnancy and prepared for a healthy postpartum journey. Dr. Mae specializes in treatment of the pelvic floor for women who are pregnant or postpartum to help them stay pain-free (and leak-free!) while moving through motherhood. 

She stands behind the philosophy that pelvic floor, core and most other full body issues during pregnancy and postpartum are absolutely treatable, even preventable, and with the right care women can regain the strength and control needed to perform any activity they desire. When she is not treating patients in Nashville, TN or creating digital courses for pelvic floor health, she is likely somewhere outside hiking with her husband, dog and now little girl, Ava.

Knowing which exercises are safe is yet another thing that can cause anxiety for women when they are pregnant, so hopefully this conversation can ease some of these anxieties and answer your burning questions!

In this episode we discuss:

  • Benefits of working out, even minimally, while pregnant.
  • What to know about lifting weights while pregnant.
  • Urinary leakage during exercise and steps to take when this happens.
  • Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy.
  • Weight training while pregnant and whether or not you should even lift weights.
  • Exercises to start if you never exercised becoming pregnant.
  • Investing in a pelvic floor physical trainer, and what he/she can help you with.
  • Resources:

    • Movement Through Pregnancy Course (Use code ‘lynzy10’ for 10%)
    • Effects of Aerobic Exercise during Pregnancy on 1-Month Infant Neuromotor Skills
    • Maternal Exercise and Cognitive Functions of the Offspring
    • Prospective associations between measures of gross and fine motor coordination in infants and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in childhood
    • Exercise during pregnancy enhances cerebral maturation in the newborn: A randomized controlled trial
    • Exercises During Pregnancy: ACOG Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines
    • ACOG Committee Opinion: Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

    • Connect with Dr. Mae Hughes:

      • Dr. Mae's Website
      • Instagram: @dr.maehughes
      • Blog

      • Discount code from my sponsors:

        • Navy Hair Care Shampoo + Conditioner: use code LYNZY for 30% off
        • Navy Hair Care Charcoal Mask: use code LYNZY for 30% off
        • Green Chef: use code ‘lynzy60’ to get 60% off + free shipping


          Connect with Lynzy:

          • Join the Motherhood Meets Medicine community at patreon.com/motherhoodmeetsmedicine
          • Instagram: @motherhoodmeetsmedicine
          • Sign up for the weekly newsletter here
          • lynzyandco.com
          • Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

            Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store

            Motherhood Meets MedicineBy Lynzy Coughlin

            • 4.9
            • 4.9
            • 4.9
            • 4.9
            • 4.9

            4.9

            1,129 ratings


            More shows like Motherhood Meets Medicine

            View all
            The Mom Hour by Mom Hour Media

            The Mom Hour

            1,694 Listeners

            Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled by JLML Press

            Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

            3,661 Listeners

            The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra, The Lazy Genius

            The Lazy Genius Podcast

            6,004 Listeners

            Clear Intentions with Diane Boden by Diane Boden

            Clear Intentions with Diane Boden

            959 Listeners

            The Motherly Podcast by Motherly

            The Motherly Podcast

            578 Listeners

            Living Fully with Mallory Ervin by Mallory Ervin

            Living Fully with Mallory Ervin

            4,368 Listeners

            Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

            Raising Good Humans

            1,834 Listeners

            Momwell by Erica Djossa

            Momwell

            298 Listeners

            HERself by Abby and Amy

            HERself

            1,724 Listeners

            The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom by Dr. Mona Amin

            The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

            1,435 Listeners

            The Mom Room by Renee Reina & Podcast Nation

            The Mom Room

            574 Listeners

            Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

            Good Inside with Dr. Becky

            4,297 Listeners

            Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn by Dr. Cathryn

            Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

            125 Listeners

            No One Told Us by Rachael Shepard-Ohta

            No One Told Us

            531 Listeners

            After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings by Audacy and Big Little Feelings

            After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings

            5,465 Listeners