abdominal exercises while TTC?

[daurelia]

Hey all, I'm new-ish around here, currently in my first month of TTC (I have been charting my cycles for years and I'm definitely about to ovulate... it's been a busy week!)

I'm wondering if anyone has any good information on whether or not abdominal exercises are good or bad for TTC. I've spent the last year or so getting into the best shape of my life and I do lots of crunches and squats and other intense ab work at the gym, I'm wondering if any of that might be bad for whatever is going on down there ;)  Any thoughts? Should I just stick to the treadmill for the time being?

[SilaMarila]

Hi daurelia and welcome! I don't have any specific links or books with information for you but as an ex fitness professional (I'm a SAHM right now) I wanted to share with you my thoughts 

Exercise has been proven to actually increase fertility (with the exception on obsessive/excess exercise that can contribute to ammenorhea). Now is definitely the time to be doing abdominal/core exercises! You are going to need all of the core strength you have once you are pg and your belly starts getting bigger! Core strengthening exercises are strengthening the muscles not your internal organs so I don't see how they could be of any harm 

Once you are pg KEEP exercising! However, pregnancy is not the time to try a new exercise routine. Stick with what you have been doing and with what your body is familiar with. Keep up your core exercises through the first trimester until it becomes unsafe to lie on your back. From there you can find exercises you can do sitting or standing. Good luck and hope you get your BFP soon!

[daurelia]

Thank you SO MUCH Sila! I really appreciate it! This sounds like sound advice.

[Masel]

I got the book Pain Free for Women by Pete Egoscue purely because I had seen the first book Pain Free mentioned with praise on a martial arts site. I had no clue that there was a section aligning the body to improve fertility. I started doing the exercises the cycle I conceived. Probably a coincedence but the exercises are interesting and relaxing.