Why Can’t Pregnant Women Make Their Own Choices?

When did it become the norm for pregnant mums and mums-to-be to face public criticism for making their own healthy choices during pregnancy? Well, now apparently.

It seems that in the current age it is absolutely ok for total strangers to target and harass pregnant women for the choices that they make during pregnancy. Most recently, this ugly trend has reared its head in the case of fit mummas, pregnant ladies who keep things toned and tight throughout their pregnancies. These are the mums that, for their own reason, choose to continue exercising during their pregnancies, apparently making them the target of other women who consider this highly inappropriate.

Michelle Bridges of Biggest Loser fame was the latest victim, enjoying the ire of the internet when she posted a photograph of herself and her partner leaping from a pier into the ocean while on holiday in Tahiti. Bridges is 5 months pregnant.

Clearly, this just wouldn’t stand with the PC nazis of the internet.

Admittedly, Bridges probably didn’t ingratiate herself with the angry public by claiming that she was able to fall pregnant with ease at 44 due to her healthy lifestyle. Clearly there are a range of factors that will decide whether a woman falls pregnant at any age. But, celebrities say things that are unwise all the time, and there’s no reason this one statement should guarantee Bridges crucifixion.

So why is Bridges copping so much flak for being fit and toned at five months? Why is it everytime she lifts some weights or sits on a rowing machine a random keyboard warrior feels like it’s their duty to tell her how irresponsible she is? Is it really the place of the public to tell women where they’re going wrong in their pregnancies.

We certainly don’t think so.

Lifestyle Matters

There’s a difference between someone doing something that endangers their child, and them living a lifestyle that differs from yours. Obviously, if Michelle Bridges was knocking back tequila and smoking a pack a day, it might be prudent for someone to tell her that isn’t a great idea. But that won’t be the job of a random stranger, it will be a task for those closest to her.

The decision of a fitness regime during pregnancy is a lifestyle one, and certainly not one that mothers take lightly. We have no doubt that Bridges, like other pregnant mums who chose to continue their fitness regimes with everything from weightlifting to marathons, has consulted with her doctor and followed their advice and her own instinct. It’s worth remembering that although other mums might not feel comfortable lifting weights or running long distance, these ‘fit mums’ usually come from a very fit background, and have a high level of existing fitness.

Indeed, although there are some black and white rules for women during pregnancy, fitness remains something of a grey area. Doctors often advise staying active during your pregnancy for as long as you can manage it. After all, your nine months of inactivity could have a challenging impact when you have to deal with the strenuous effort of labour. But not all women will lift weights, not all women will run and not all women will choose to continue the fitness practice they had before getting pregnant. For those that do, well done. For those that don’t, we have no doubt you’ll find something that suits you, and your growing bump, better.

Why Can’t We Just All Get Along?

It’s a struggle for the ladies at SAHM to accept that there is so much animosity leveraged towards pregnant women for their lifestyle choices. After all, these ladies are undertaking one of the most challenging and life-changing experiences ever. It’s an experience that women all over the world go through over the course of their lives, and it should be celebrated, not criticised.

We all make our own decisions, and part of the responsibility that comes with that is accepting where we might be wrong, and working to make sure that doesn’t happen in the future. Bridges may very well decide later on in her pregnancy to slow down on her fitness, but that’s her decision. Until then, how about we all just swallow that inner critic, and celebrate one of the many mums-to-be wandering around the world right now, trying to figure out what works best for them.

What do you think?