Table of Contents
All trimester recommendations are general guidelines that we have found to work well for our prenatal clients. As a disclaimer, these guidelines should not be considered the set-in-stone standard for every pregnant woman as every pregnancy is unique. Our recommendation is to adjust how you bench press while pregnant based on how you feel each day.
Pregnancy is a state of growth, both in body and mind. Allow this time to be an opportunity to explore new movements without competition or performance expectations.
Bench Press in the 1st Trimester
The horizontal press, or the bench press, can be modified to meet the demands of pregnancy based on each individual mother. During the first trimester, as with most lifts, the bench press will probably look fairly similar to pre-pregnancy. The biggest adjustments will be loading. All lifts should decrease to the 70% 1RM loading, focusing on muscular endurance with 2-4 sets at 8-12 repetitions. We like to pair the bench press with a core stability movement, such as the pallof press or farmer carries. Remember that you always have the option to explore with loading options; barbell, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc.
Bench Press in the 2nd Trimester
During this trimester, it will be important to fully incorporate the ninja roll into all movements on and off the bench or floor for the horizontal press. This movement should be how you get up and down onto your back, regardless of location; this includes when you get up out of bed in the morning!
As this trimester progresses, the additional curvature of the lumbar spine and additional weight of the belly may result in discomfort in the hips/back when the feet are on the floor during the bench press. We recommend adjusting to an elevated feet position or feet on the bench. Feet on the bench may feel a little less stable, so be prepared for that sensation and ensure you are in the middle of the bench. Option to also elevated the feet (in the video below), but this will be the most unstable of the options.
Bench Press in the 3rd Trimester
As the third trimester approaches, the desire to lay flat on the back may not be as comfortable. If laying flat on your flat is still comfortable, feel free to continue to bench press on your back.
Symptoms to watch for when exercising on your back:
- Dizziness
- Seeing Spots
- Lightheadedness
If you experience any of those symptoms, put the weight away, and roll to your left side to rest until you feel more recovered. Then we should transition to more upright or inclined positions.
We tend to progress towards the inclined dumbbell bench press during the later portion of this trimester. We prefer dumbbells over barbells in the incline press, as it’s easier to get in and out of, and the movement is significantly less awkward with dumbbells.
The inclined position allows the mother to decrease the distance that she needs to lean back, thus preventing or limiting any abdominal coning, and the inclined position tends to be more comfortable as the lumbar spine becomes more curved in the later portions of pregnancy.
The modifications per trimester are not set in stone and can fluctuate between mothers and pregnancies. Some mothers prefer the incline bench press starting the first trimester, and other will bench press their entire pregnancy. Pregnancy is a state of growth, and an opportunity to explore movement that best suits your body each day.
Pay attention to how the movement feels for your body, not necessarily how hard the movement is. Do you feel pulling or strain in your abdomen or back? Is the position comfortable to be in? Do you feel confident in the lift? Use this opportunity to really sync up with your body and actually listen to what it is telling you.
