If you’re an expecting mother who loves to hit the gym, you may be wondering if it’s safe to continue taking pre-workout supplements during your pregnancy. Staying active and maintaining a fitness routine is essential for many women, but caution is key when it comes to what you put in your body while pregnant.
Here, I’ll delve into the topic of taking pre-workout supplements during pregnancy. I’ll discuss the potential risks and benefits, as well as guide making informed decisions about your fitness regimen while keeping your Baby’s health the top priority.
So, if you’re curious about whether or not pre-workout is a safe option for you during this special time, keep reading for all the information you need.
What is pre-workout?
Nutritionists and fitness experts say pre-workout is a drug that may help athletes perform better by giving them a burst of energy before they go to the gym. It’s usually sold as a powder that dissolves in water, a drink, or gummies.
The Cleveland Clinic says the most common chemicals in pre-workout are caffeine, creatine, amino acids (especially beta-alanine), B vitamins, glucose, and nitric oxide.
Jim White, R.D.N., A.C.S.M., the owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios and an exercise scientist, says that caffeine and creatine are the main ingredients in pre-workout that give you energy.
Caffeine is a gentle stimulant that makes the brain and nerves work harder. This can help you feel more awake and focused. This is an amino acid called creatine that gives your muscles energy.
Because it has these two ingredients together with other amino acids, beta-alanine, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients, players may feel like they have more energy after eating it before and during exercise.
Jenna Stangland, M.S., R.D.N., a board-certified sports nutritionist and Momentous expert in sports dietetics, says that you can drink coffee for caffeine alone, but ergogenic acids in pre-workouts may help you do better in sports. “These ingredients include alpha G.P.C., citrulline, beta-alanine, creatine, arginine, taurine, tyrosine, and others,” she says.
Benefits of workout
Many people take pre-workout supplements to get more out of their workouts. Whether it’s to run faster, take more steps, or lift bigger weights, everyone wants to reach their sports goals. Some pre-workout supplements claim to help in the long run, but more study is needed to understand these claims fully.
Here are some perks that experts and researchers have found that you may get from using pre-workout.
May Boost Energy
Like coffee and energy drinks, pre-workouts are meant to give you more energy and endurance. “Pre-workouts usually have more caffeine and ingredients that help muscles recover and stay hydrated,” says White.
“A normal cup of coffee isn’t for everyone,” he says, because people with anxiety may have heart problems or panic attacks after drinking it. Overall, caffeine is found in coffee, energy drinks, and pre-workout.
This means that anyone who needs an extra boost of energy to get through the day or workout can choose to drink one of these.
Potentially Increase Output
People who drank or ate supplements before working out experienced an increase in the average amount of power during anaerobic exercise. However, that same study found no gains in total power or upper body strength.
Could Help With Muscle Recovery
Some ingredients in ergogenic acid, like beta-alanine and creatine, may help muscles heal faster and keep you from getting tired during and after hard exercise.
Stangland says, “They improve the workout in many ways, such as by widening blood vessels to get more oxygen to the working muscle, increasing the time before muscle fatigue, or lowering the buildup of lactic acid to avoid cramps.”
It May Help Build Muscle
One study looked at the benefits of commercially available pre-workout supplements and found that individuals who took them experienced some increases in leg presses, lean body mass, and lower body strength.
It Could Concentrate The Mind
Pre-workout supplements might boost your mental focus, which can lead to better physical performance. “Ingredients that focus on mental clarity and even vasodilation, [the dilation of blood vessels], to optimize one’s blood supply could be very beneficial,” Dr. Lee said.
Can You Take Pre-Workout While Pregnant?
If you’re going to be working out for a long time, it might be okay to take a pre-workout supplement, but only in small amounts and only if your doctor says it’s okay. However, if you are not pregnant, these things will not get in the way of your workout. In fact, they will help you do better.
Pregnant women need to get the right advice and think about safety before taking pre-workout because it is a controversial topic, and not all manufacturers have the same list of ingredients.
It’s hard to give a clear answer because the amount and shape of some main ingredients, like caffeine and amino acids, vary from brand to brand. Some pills say they are safe for pregnant women, but it is still very important to look very closely at what they are made of.
A belief has grown around supplements with “stim-free” labels. This means that the supplement does not contain any stimulants like coffee, but this does not mean that it is safe in general.
Is Pre-Workout Safe for Pregnant Women?
In general, what does the pre-workout supplement say about whether it is good for pregnant women? Some brands are made with natural chemicals and very little caffeine. To be safe, you should always ask your doctor if a vitamin is safe for you to take.
It should be safe for you and your Baby as long as you don’t drink more than 200 mg of caffeine a day and your pre-workout doesn’t make you feel sick. Before you buy a pre-workout, you should read the label carefully and always figure out how much caffeine is in a dose.
Starting with half a helping or less is the best way to make sure you stay within the limits. Then, if you think the dose isn’t enough, you can add a little more. Gradually increasing the amount helps you control the dose and avoid any risks or side effects that might happen.
Remember that you can always take pre-workouts after giving birth and while you’re nursing, as well as when you start working out normally again. It’s not easy to grow a baby, and your body needs a healthy, well-balanced diet to get the energy and nutrients it needs during pregnancy.
Pre-workout risk during pregnancy
If you are pregnant and take pre-workout, there are some risks that you should be aware of. These risks are:
Excessive caffeine content
People who are pregnant shouldn’t take pre-workout supplements with a lot of caffeine because it can raise the risk of giving birth early. It can also change the Mother’s heart rate and blood pressure, as well as the Baby’s growth.
Herbal Extracts and Additives
The Baby might be in danger because some of the herbal extracts in the supplements might not work right or cause the Baby to have a bad response.
There are supplements on the market that contain herbal extracts and additives that may not be safe for all pregnant women. This is because herbal extracts and additives don’t always work well for everyone, and there hasn’t been enough research done on their effects during pregnancy, which can raise the risk of harm to the Baby.
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Supplements with vasodilators or stimulants can raise blood pressure and heart rate. To avoid this, we should carefully read the supplement’s chemicals, as this can put both the Mother and the Baby at greater risk.
Dehydration
Pre-workout pills can reduce hydration levels since they include diuretic chemicals, which cause dehydration, and pregnant women are more susceptible to its effects.
What Pre-Workout Is Safe When You Are Pregnant?
Although this can be a difficult issue to answer, manufacturers are not required to incorporate a specific list of components in their products. The following are some common pre-workouts that are safe for pregnant women.
Caffeine
It is a stimulant found in most pre-workout supplements. It is great for boosting energy and keeping people awake and motivated during exercise. Caffeine must be consumed in moderation during pregnancy because excessive consumption is dangerous.
Creatine
It is a supplement that enhances the body’s natural supply of phosphocreatine. The body subsequently converts this phosphocreatine into ATP, providing more energy and enhancing workout endurance. It is a low-cost drug that poses no risk. It is great for alleviating problems such as low or lack of oxygen during pregnancy.
Amino Acids
These are recognized to be protein building blocks. However, they are rarely seen in pre-workout supplements. Amino acids are included in pre-workouts for their metabolic benefits.
L-Citrulline
It helps the body produce nitric oxide, which relaxes the arteries and enhances the flow of blood, nutrients, and oxygen to the muscles. L-citrulline has several benefits during pregnancy, including improved cardiovascular health for the Mother.
L-Theanine
It is found in tea leaves, which people commonly consume alongside caffeine. It promotes attention without causing anxiety and is perfectly safe during pregnancy. Aside from that, it helps to alleviate symptoms of sadness, anxiety, and stress.
How Much Pre-Workout Should a Woman Take?
The amount of pre-workout ladies should consume depends on the specific product, as the concentration of components differs. “It’s recommended to follow the instructions on the particular product’s packaging,” advises the doctor.
You should also pay attention to how your body reacts, as only some people react to pre-workout in the same manner, according to Larson. For example, if the prescribed dose causes you to feel jittery, you should definitely take less or try a different brand.
Tips to Stay Fit and Healthy While Pregnant
You may feel like you need those pre-workouts more than ever now, even if you were very busy before you got pregnant. There are some things you can do to stay fit and healthy while you’re pregnant, even if you don’t feel like it.
Stay Active
Every day, you should do some low to moderate exercise. Only do a little if you’re tired. For example, go swimming, take a short walk, or stretch on a yoga mat. Have a bad day and can’t find the time or energy to do any of these? Don’t be hard on yourself; you can get back on track the next day.
In general, working out while pregnant is good for you, but there are some exercises you should not do. There are dangerous activities like climbing and others that put you at risk of hurting yourself or falling, as well as activities like jumping, bouncing, hopping, and more.
Remember to pay attention to your body. Work out for less than 45 minutes, and if you notice anything unusual, call your nurse or doctor right away. Also, only work out a little when it’s really hot outside.
If you’re 16 weeks along, you shouldn’t do any workouts while lying on your back. Your Baby can press on a blood vessel while you’re on your back, which can cut off blood flow to your heart and, in turn, to your Baby.
Hydrate
Getting enough water is important for everyone, but it’s even more important for pregnant women. Pregnant women need to drink more water because they are more likely to become dehydrated.
The amniotic sac and the placenta are made of water, which helps your Baby grow. A bottle of water should always be close by, and vegetables that are high in water, like cucumbers, should be eaten or snacked on a lot.
Pay Attention to Your Diet
Cravings are a tough part of almost all pregnancies. It’s too bad that most people don’t want tomatoes and peppers. Instead, they want a big, juicy cheeseburger or other unhealthy foods.
Our bodies are trying to tell us that they need certain nutrients when they make us crave certain foods. You may want fast food or junk food when you’re hungry, but these highly processed foods are not good for you or your Baby.
Instead, you can still eat the things you want, but they will be better for you. For example, instead of getting a burger from your favorite fast food place that is greasy and full of meat, try making one at home that is healthier by using lighter meat.
Finally, there’s a myth that says “you are eating for two” when you’re pregnant, so it’s okay to eat too much. In fact, you should stay within the healthy weight gain range during your pregnancy. This will make it easier for you to lose the extra weight after giving birth and will make you feel better during your pregnancy.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
Not only does pregnancy hurt our bodies, but it also hurts our minds. A lot of pregnant women stay up all night worried about the Baby or whether they will be a good mother. They also wait for the Baby to kick to make sure they are still alive.
All of these thoughts can be bad for your mental health. They may make you lose sleep and feel tired, which can then affect your Baby’s health and your own.
Set up a way to relax before bed, and you’ll be less likely to have trouble sleeping.
You can talk about any important worries that are keeping you up at night or that worry you with your doctor or nurse. You can also tell your partner, a family member, or a friend about your worries and ask them to help you.
Reduce Sugar Consumption
Sugar is bad for us, but it can also be one of our favorite things to eat when we’re pregnant. But if you eat a lot of sugar, you will probably gain weight that will be hard to lose after the Baby is born.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge your sweet tooth. There are many sweets on the market that are safe for pregnant women. One is monk fruit, which is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and won’t add any calories to your diet. Besides that, this could be a great option for women with diabetes, whether they are pregnant or not.
Final Words
Prioritize your health and safety, especially during pregnancy. When it comes to taking pre-workout supplements while pregnant, consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions.
Your doctor can provide personalized advice based on your individual circumstances and help you make informed choices regarding your fitness routine during pregnancy.
Remember, the well-being of both you and your Baby is paramount, so always seek professional guidance when considering any dietary or workout changes during this special time in your life.