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BOSS BABY
I’m trolled for lifting 340-lb weights at 9 months pregnant, people say I’m risking my baby’s health but it’s empowering
She gets weird looks at the gym too
ONE woman is proving that pregnancy shouldn’t stop you from getting fit at the gym.
Only weeks away from giving birth, she regularly lifts hundreds of pounds.
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Just because she’s 37 weeks pregnant doesn’t mean muscular mom Lily Stevenson is going to stop lifting her usual 340-lb weights.
While the 23-year-old has been posting clips of her impressive gym routines online, all anyone can talk about is her huge baby bump in the way.
The Utah-based content creator said: "The biggest misconception about weightlifting while pregnant is that you can't."
When Lily had her first child, she began focusing on her fitness.
She hit the gym once with a friend and became hooked on working out, and so it goes the gym became a major part of her life.
During her second pregnancy, Lily decided to discuss with her doctor the possible impact of working out while pregnant.
She explained: "I did speak to my doctor at the time, and I continued to talk to her about it to see what she is comfortable with.
"I get pretty anemic when I'm pregnant, so she was just a little worried about my energy levels and told me to make sure I was conserving my energy for growing a baby.”
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It was when she entered her third trimester that her doctor told her to make sure to “take it easy.”
For large parts of the pregnancy, Lily would be going to the gym five days a week, doing various workouts such as squats, bench presses, and deadlifts.
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As she approached the latter stages of the journey, however, she has cut down her routine to four sessions a week.
Lily explained: "It's very empowering to carry a baby and lift weights at the same time.
"I get a lot of people at the gym saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I can't believe you're here working out while pregnant.’ It's something that I enjoy and that I love."
Despite sharing her videos online to inspire other moms to go and hit the gym, Lily has received her fair share of hate, which has left her flooded in tears.
While showcasing her journey, viewers have constantly questioned her baby's safety.
"I don't mean to sound rude, but is this even allowed when you’re pregnant?” one commenter began.
“It doesn't seem worth the risk at all. Is this safe?"
Lily dove further on the backlash she’s received: "I get a lot of haters in my comment saying that I shouldn't be working out while pregnant and shouldn't be doing this and shouldn't be doing that, and it's going to harm the baby.
"I've heard all kinds of crazy things.”
When doing shoulder presses with waves, as she called it, some people warned her about potentially ripping her umbilical cord.
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She revealed that most of the rude comments are strictly online, though she does get some crazy looks at the gym.
"You can definitely tell what people are thinking when they see a huge pregnant lady working out and they give a nasty look.
"My final words for the haters: stay in your own lane. If you have questions, go talk to your own doctor about them.
"I feel super powerful.”
Doctor Lawrence Cunningham from the UK Care Guide shared his thoughts, saying: "In my experience, some women can safely engage in more strenuous activities [compared to] others during pregnancy.”
He said it all depends on their pre-pregnancy fitness levels, their current health, and the specifics of their pregnancy.
"When I've encountered this scenario in practice, I always emphasize the importance of individual assessment.
"If a doctor has cleared a woman for heavy lifting at 37 weeks pregnant, it suggests that her pregnancy is proceeding without complications and that she is in good physical condition.”
Still, he recommended women listen to their bodies and stay “vigilant for any signs of strain or discomfort,” despite getting medical clearance.
"It's really important to avoid any risks that could lead to injury for both the mother and the baby.
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"Heavy lifting at that late stage is not something I would typically recommend, unless the woman was an experienced lifter."
As for Lily, she shared her personal records for weightlifting in the gym while pregnant, which include 275 pounds for squats, and 340 pounds for deadlifts.
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