Doctors and midwives agree that keeping fit and healthy when you’re expecting is important for you and your baby – by remaining active in pregnancy, your body will find it easier to adapt to your changing shape. That’s why pregnancy workout apps are indispensable, as you can exercise from the comfort of your own home, whenever suits you.
And did you know that workouts during pregnancy can alleviate back pain, bloating and leg cramps, strengthen the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles as well as boost your energy levels to prepare your body for labour? But a pregnancy workout doesn’t mean taking on huge new challenges, more maintaining your health with moderate forms of exercise.
Safety is always the number one priority, so make sure you warm up properly, drink water throughout and take the time to cool down. Reduce the number of workouts that cause your heart rate to rise and when in doubt, stick to low intensity forms such as yoga and Pilates.
Since every pregnancy is different, always check with your GP before embarking on a new exercise routine and remember that your strength and energy levels will fluctuate throughout trimesters. We’ve rounded up five of the best prenatal workout plans you can do from home whilst group classes are postponed. These virtual methods will help you stay strong and feel fit throughout – and come added with a celebrity personal trainer or two!
Co-founded by former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh (a new mum to son Roman Ravello Thomas) and celebrity personal trainer Cecilia Harris, the Results Wellness Lifestyle app offers a ‘Bump’ programme with a range of exercises designed to improve posture, relieve stress and help you cope with labour.
As well as a range of pregnancy-safe exercise classes including Barre, BoxRcise, dance and yoga, you’ll find over 600 recipes to maintain optimum nutrition plus professional advice from the RWL midwife and sleep consultant, with online guidance for pre and post-natal stages. You’ll also get instant access to the pregnancy chat group to message like-minded mums-to-be for additional support.
Low impact forms of exercise such as Pilates will encourage a healthy mind and body throughout pregnancy
Jennis
Olympic gold medal winner, three-time world champion and mum of two, Jessica Ennis-Hill has combined her professional expertise with her own experience of pregnancy in a new app. Featuring three workout programmes: Fitness, Pregnancy and Postnatal, you’ll begin with a video overview from the athlete herself, plus have access to Jessica’s team for all of your fitness related queries.
The Pregnancy plan breaks down workouts by trimester, with a follow-up for the postnatal stage, building strength safely in the core and pelvic floor. There are additional challenges for glutes and abs, with workouts guided by Jessica as she shares her Pro tips in a friendly and accessible style. You can adjust the levels to beginner, intermediate and advanced as your confidence builds.
From £14.99 a month, with discounts available when paying for three months or more upfront. Visit jennisfitness.com
Inspired by the original programme which uses a combination of bodyweight resistance and high repetitions to flex your major muscle groups, Barrecore introduces BarrePRENATAL. Specifically tailored to suit pregnancy and reduce growing aches and pains, you can exercise safely and effectively with this low impact programme.
Using floor-based exercise, BarrePRENATAL classes are live streamed three times per week with unlimited access so you can follow along when its most convenient. You can also book private one-to-one sessions via email, which is recommended as an induction for new mums-to-be.
Weekly unlimited access to live streamed classes from £15 a week with first class free. Visit barrecore.com
Zoom-friendly workout classes mean you can easily adapt exercise for life in lockdown
MamaBeing Fit
Made in Chelsea’s Binky Felstead has created a supportive space for mothers to seek advice and recommendations together with a fitness app to stay active before, during and after pregnancy. Mother to India, three, and expecting a baby boy this year, Binky aims to empower and energise new mums with the app packed with targeted workouts, tracking features and recipes for you and your baby.
Start with the beginner prenatal step by step class, and you can progress to bodyweight cardio and core then the zero equipment beyond baby session after giving birth. Additional features include a weight tracking graph and space to store progress images, plus the app syncs with Apple Health to track your calories and heart rate.
From £11.99 a month, or £99.99 a year, with a free 7 day trial. Search MamaBeing Fit in the App Store
Award-winning Pilates instructor Hollie Grant has created The Bump Plan, where trimester-specific classes fuse gentle, low impact cardio with Grant’s expert commentary and advice as an expectant (and now new) mother herself.
Each workout will show videos of Hollie at the same stage in pregnancy as you, with new classes for 12, 18, 24 and 30 weeks. You’ll receive six videos per stage of the plan to support the challenges you’re facing at the time, plus access to an Education Hub with expert advice on symptoms, breastfeeding and mental health. Every new member of The Bump Plan will receive a luxury starter pack worth £100, with equipment and pampering goodies from the likes of Sweaty Betty and Mamma Mio.
This personal training app is highly ranked on the App store, and features a handy post-pregnancy program using resistance workouts designed to increase core strength and improve posture for mums. The app hosts programs by some of the best female personal trainers in the world, including Kayla Itsines and Kelsey Wells.
Free to download with in-app purchases. Visit the App store
Working out from home has never been easier thanks to handy apps and virtual classes
FWFG (Find What Feels Good)
Find What Feels Good is the perfect app for yogis, and is run by Adriene Mishler, of Yoga with Adriene. You'll be able to access over 700 videos including yoga and meditation for all levels, with some specifically designed for pregnant mamas. We guarantee you'll love the prenatal yoga video series.
Free 7-day trial then £7.99 per month. Visit fwfg.com
Created by a team of postnatal health and fitness experts, this handy app aims to help your body heal with yoga and pilates, before encouraging you to try low impact workouts and resistance training. The app includes workouts, advice from a pelvic floor physiotherapist and a community of Fiit Mums.
Free 14-day trial then £20 per month. Visit fiit.tv
Packed full of workouts, circuits and daily exercises, Baby2Body is ideal if you want to keep fit from home. With tailored workout plans to help you achieve your goals, this app is really handy to have on your phone. The workouts are all safe for mums-to-be, and change depending on what stage you're at in your pregnancy.
*Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare professional before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme when pregnant.
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© Photo: Getty Images
© Photo: Getty Images
© Photo: Getty Images
