Pregnant women are incredible. They transform their bodies, minds, and souls to produce another human, which is all amazing. Some moms use pregnancy as a time to indulge a little more than usual. Why not have both if you can't choose between chocolate and vanilla? That's totally OK every once in a while. Some moms also keep up with their regular and sometimes strenuous exercise routines. This is all great, too, as long as the doctor is OK with it.
We have all heard that what a mom puts in her body while pregnant also goes to the baby. That's why women are discouraged from drinking, smoking, and doing drugs while they are pregnant. These things are known to have adverse effects on a developing fetus. But what about the good stuff? Like exercising and lifting weights? What does that do? UK mom Yoana Banda shared the results of her pregnancy exercise routine on TikTok, and it's kind of wild.
Keeping fit is a regular part of Banda's life.
Banda is a youth sports coach who likes to stay physically fit. She did not take a break during her pregnancy. Instead, she kept up her intense workout routine. In late January, Banda posted a TikTok showing her exercising in a gym with a pretty defined pregnant belly.
In the video, she is doing some serious lifting. It's the kind of stuff that many people couldn't do on their best day in the gym, let alone in the third trimester (*raises hand slowly*).
Her baby was born looking pretty fit herself.
Banda gave birth to daughter Ariah on November 11, and she could tell that the little girl was different early on. She told Today that the baby girl had incredible neck strength and could hold her head up at 2 weeks. That usually only happens at between 1 and 2 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Today reported.
But that's not all. At the end of the now-viral TikTok, with more than 9 million views, the video cuts to baby Ariah, who has pretty defined muscles. Like, for real, this baby's got some arms.
"The first time we bathed her, I looked at my husband and I was like, 'Babe, she's got muscles. She's got big, big muscles,'" Banda told Today.
So, all that working out made the baby strong, right?
Even though it might burst some bubbles, experts say that Ariah's muscles didn't develop just because her mom worked out while she was pregnant.
"There is no link between a mom and her exercise regime and how fit she is during pregnancy with her baby's muscle mass," Dr. Lisa Thiel, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Corewell Health in Michigan, told Today.
But it isn't all a coincidence. Banda did incorporate a high-protein diet into her pregnancy routine, which might have helped.
"There is a role for epigenetics in pregnancy and the best example would be nutrition," Thiel said. "A healthy diet in pregnancy can have great health benefits for a child."
Can a baby get buff on the inside?
If you've ever been pregnant or around someone pregnant and felt a baby's kick, then you know those suckers can be intense. Would kicking and punching and moving around be enough of a physical challenge that a baby could bulk up in the womb?
Evidently, little Miss Ariah just has good genes.
"They are extending and flexing their arms and their fingers and getting that nervous system activated for movement," Thiel explained. "But [in the uterus] they're not having the resistance force needed to increase muscle mass."
Moms-to-be should try to stay physically active during pregnancy.
Even if it won't necessarily give your newborn the fitness edge, exercising during pregnancy is super healthy for most women.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that pregnant women get at least 30 minutes of light to moderate exercise daily during their pregnancy. This does not have to be strenuous or include heavy weight lifting. Simple walking is a great way to stay fit and healthy. Women should always talk to their doctor before starting an exercise regimen and always listen to their bodies.
"Regular exercise can help you cope with the physical changes of pregnancy and build stamina for the challenges ahead. If you haven't been exercising regularly, use pregnancy as your motivation to begin," says the Mayo Clinic.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
