A PREGNANT fitness fanatic refused to give up her exercise regime and lifted heavy weights just days before her baby was born.
Meghan Umphres Leatherman was still pumping weights as part of her gruelling fitness regime – that also combines gymnastics and cardio – when she was close to giving birth and already 1cm dilated.
The 33-year-old from Arizona, USA, was even lifting weights on the day she went into labour, having already broken records in the final days of her pregnancy.
Meghan insists her exercises – which also included walking her dog for three miles every day and going through a four-mile hike throguh the mountains every week – weren’t a danger to her unborn baby, and maintains that they made pregnancy EASIER and her baby healthier.
And now, after giving birth to baby girl Florence Germaine earlier this month, she is raring to get back to the gym in less than a MONTH.
The marketing and communications consultant revealed: “I’ve talked to my doctor and she says I can go back to the gym within three weeks. I would never give up [exercise regime] CrossFit – being fit helped me to conceive in the first place and it kept me healthy throughout my pregnancy.”
Meghan got into lifting weights two years ago, and she said that she instantly became addicted to the results she was seeing on her body.
She said: “I never considered giving it up during pregnancy.
“It fitted with my personality. It’s a challenge.
“I like to try and work with others in a community and getting the motivation to be stronger and fitter and better. I didn’t lose that motivation just because I was pregnant.”
Meghan even claimed that lifting weights stopped her from getting morning sickness and being pregnant actually made it even easier to lift heavy weights – and three days before her due date set a personal record by lifting 215lb deadlifts. She was also doing 110lb push presses and 165lb squats and saw her energy levels and strength soar as her due date grew nearer.
Despite criticism aimed at expectant mums who continue to work out, Meghan says her doctors were encouraging of her regime, adding: “My doctors have been incredibly supportive of what I’m doing.
“They were thrilled that I was setting personal records with weight lifting and they told me to keep active and hydrated.”
Baby Florence was born after four hours of contractions and Meghan said she had an “easy” birth.
Defending her actions, she said: “A woman shouldn’t be criticised for trying to stay active and healthy. This actually helped me have an easier pregnancy and delivery. I think women should embrace pregnancy and not use it as an excuse to get lazy.”
Source: dailystar.co.uk
