[Submitted Question]

This is my third pregnancy and I am at eight weeks pregnant. I have started going to the gym about three times a week a couple of months ago. To keep trim I also do stomach crunches. There is a lot of conflicting information on whether that is okay during early pregnancy. What are the facts?

[WombToBloom]

It sounds as though you are doing some weight training as part of your exercise which is very safe to do in the first trimester as long as there is no bleeding or cramping going on. Abdominal crunches can be done in the first trimester as well but will be difficult to do and be more risky in the second trimester because you shouldn’t be lying flat on your back from the mid second trimester to the end of the pregnancy. Stay well hydrated during your workout and begin to take it easy as you enter the middle of the second trimester.