A super fit mother kept powerlifting until the day before she went into labor, even after fainting during a workout and feeling ‘petrified’ at the thought of returning to the gym.
Veteran and Army wife Kristi Sives, 25, has been powerlifting for a year and a half to keep fit after leaving the military.
When the mom, from Madison Heights, Michigan, became pregnant, her doctor told her that powerlifting was safe during her pregnancy—although Kristi wouldn’t recommend beginners to take up the practice while expecting.
Persistence: Kristi Sives (pictured 34 weeks into her pregnancy) kept powerlifting until the day before she went into labor, even after fainting during a workout and feeling ‘petrified’
Exercise: The 25-year-old veteran and Army wife has been powerlifting for a year and a half to keep fit after leaving the military
Medical advice: When the mom, from Madison Heights, Michigan, became pregnant, her doctor told her that powerlifting was safe during her pregnancy
Kristi, however, initially struggled with low blood pressure during a workout in her first trimester.
‘After squatting what for me was a small amount of weight, my blood pressure bottomed out and I fainted, but woke up with people over me telling me I’d had a seizure,’ she said.
‘While that wasn’t true, I suffered a concussion that was very hard to heal from given the pregnancy and I was absolutely petrified of lifting weights.’
The mother ended up taking several weeks off, until her doctor convinced her to go back to the gym.
Experience matters: Kristi wouldn’t recommend beginners to take up powerlifting while expecting, and advises new adepts to hire a coach if possible
Scary: The athlete initially struggled with low blood pressure during a workout in her first trimester and blacked out while squatting at the gym
Taking a break: The mother ended up taking several weeks off, until her doctor convinced her to go back to the gym. She had to work up the courage to resume her workout routine
‘I would go and just stare at the weights,’ Kristi added. ‘It took quite a while for me to be comfortable again, but by listening to my body and the advice of my doctor I never had any sort of incident again.
‘The dangers and risks are going to be close to the same as powerlifting any other time. There is always risk of injuring yourself.
‘Throughout my pregnancy my focus has been listening to my body, if something didn’t feel right that day, I would skip it all together, never compromising form, slow and controlled repetitions and breathing.
‘I would not recommend powerlifting during pregnancy to anyone who wasn’t already powerlifting prior to becoming pregnant.’
Powerlifting promotes skeletal strength, fat burning and helps build muscle, meaning the mom, since she was already an experienced lifter, was able to continue reaping the benefits of the practice.
A few days before giving birth just last week, Kristi could deadlift 273 pounds, squat with 205 pounds, and bench 123 pounds. She has now given birth to a healthy baby boy.
Impressive: A few days before giving birth just last week, Kristi could deadlift 273 pounds, squat with 205 pounds, and bench 123 pounds
Welcome! Kristi has now given birth to a healthy baby boy (right). Her husband is setting up a gym in their garage so that their son can watch them work out as he is growing
Reaching out: To those who would like to get into powerlifting, Kristi recommends finding a community and asking plenty of questions
Kristi’s husband is setting up a gym in their garage so that their son can watch them work out as he is growing.
While powerlifting as a pregnant woman, Kristi received mostly positive feedback, but also picked up some negative comments.
‘Most of the feedback I get is extremely positive. I will have strangers cheer me on in the gym or approach myself and my husband telling us how awesome and inspiring they think I am,’ she said.
‘However, I’ve also had a lot of uninformed people tell me that it wasn’t okay, that I was going to “suffocate my baby” or hurt him in some other way and have definitely gotten my fair share of dirty looks.’
To those who would like to get into powerlifting, Kristi recommends finding a community and asking plenty of questions.
‘For the longest time I was focused on getting strong, but didn’t know anything about the rules of powerlifting or how to go about competing,’ she said.
‘Use your resources, and if possible hire a coach! Even if it’s just to get you on your way.’