Ultimate Trimester-by-Trimester Movement Guide

August 31, 2025

Pregnancy is such a unique season of life. Your body is changing almost daily, your energy levels can swing from one extreme to the other, and your priorities shift as you prepare for your baby. One thing that can remain constant through it all is movement, safe, intentional movement that supports both your body and your mind.

At ABC Fit Collective, we believe pregnancy workouts should never be about “pushing through” or trying to maintain your pre-pregnancy pace. Instead, they should help you stay strong, mobile, and connected to your changing body while keeping you and your baby safe.

This trimester-by-trimester guide will walk you through what to focus on in each stage, the best types of exercises, and how to make adjustments along the way so you can feel confident and supported from your first positive test all the way to delivery day.

First Trimester: Laying the Foundation

The first trimester is a wonderful time to either begin a strength training program with guidance or continue your usual fitness routine with a few thoughtful modifications. Since your baby bump is still small, this is the ideal window to focus on the fundamentals that will carry you through the rest of your pregnancy.

If you are dealing with morning sickness, give yourself permission to adapt. Some days, the most supportive choice will be exercises that keep you upright and reduce nausea (many of our clients find upright workouts to be the best). Squats may feel better than deadlifts, or seated rows with resistance bands might be more comfortable than bent-over rows. The goal here is to move in ways that feel good, keep you energized, and work with your body instead of against it.

Breathwork is everything in these early months. Now is the time to master your deep, 360-degree breathing. This means inhaling into your sides and back and exhaling while gently engaging your core and pelvic floor. Learning this now will be a huge gift to yourself later when your belly grows and breathing becomes more challenging.

We always remind our ABC Fit mamas to focus on their ABCs : Alignment, Breath, and Core.

  • Keep your posture stacked - ribs over hips, knees soft, glutes relaxed.
  • Draw your ribcage toward your hip bones on each exhale to activate your deep core.
  • Let this connection become the foundation for all your movements, especially as your center of gravity begins to shift in the months ahead.

What about planks? If you were already doing planks before pregnancy and they feel comfortable, they are generally safe in the first trimester as long as you can maintain your breath and you are not seeing any coning, doming, or discomfort in your core or lower back. Listen to your body and modify whenever necessary.

Great First Trimester Exercises

Front Raises

Goblet Squat

Shoulder Press

Second Trimester: Build Strength, Boost Balance

For many moms-to-be, the second trimester is often called the honeymoon phase of pregnancy. Morning sickness often fades, energy levels can increase, and your belly is big enough to be visible but still small enough that moving feels comfortable. This is an excellent time to build strength, focus on posture, and refine your movement patterns.

This trimester is all about balance, both in life and in your workouts.

We love to introduce single-sided, or unilateral , exercises during this stage. Think single-leg deadlifts, one-arm presses, or suitcase carries. These are not just great for your core strength; they are also incredibly functional for motherhood. Before long, you will be carrying a baby (plus a diaper bag, car seat, and maybe a snack for yourself) all on one side of your body. Training this way now helps prepare you for the real-life asymmetries of mom life.

When one side of your body is loaded, your deep core muscles have to work harder to stabilize you. This means you get excellent core engagement without a single crunch.

Trainer tip: If you notice one side feels weaker, do not immediately drop the weight. Keep the same weight for both sides and simply slow down on the weaker side. Controlled reps will help even things out over time and set you up for the demands of holding your baby on one hip while multitasking with the other hand.

Great Second Trimester Exercises

Racked March

Single Leg Deadlift

Suitcase Carry

Third Trimester: Stay Consistent, Stay Connected

In the third trimester, the focus shifts from building strength to maintaining it. Your goal now is to keep moving in ways that feel good, sustainable, and supportive. This is not the time to increase intensity or push for new personal bests. Instead, think maintenance over performance.

Whether you choose walking, swimming, prenatal yoga, or carefully programmed strength training, the key is consistency. Movement can help with swelling, stiffness, circulation, and even mood. Staying active in a safe way can also improve your sleep and overall energy.

This is when your ABCs become more important than ever:

  • Alignment is trickier as your belly grows and your center of gravity shifts. Keep your pelvis neutral and your ribs stacked over your hips to help avoid low back pain.
  • Breath will feel more challenging as your baby presses up against your diaphragm. Use your 360-degree breath to stay connected to your deep core and pelvic floor.
  • Core connection is essential. Your core is already working overtime to support your growing belly, so focus on movements that enhance rather than strain it.

We often recommend combo moves in the third trimester. These are exercises that combine two movements in one, like a squat to overhead press or reverse lunge with a bicep curl. They keep your whole body engaged, mimic the multitasking nature of motherhood, and gently challenge your cardiovascular system, perfect preparation for the endurance event that is labor. And let’s be real, once your baby arrives, you will be lifting, lunging, bending, and carrying almost constantly.

Great Third Trimester Exercises

Reverse Lunge to Bicep Curl

Row to Deadlift

Squat to One Arm Shoulder Press

The Bottom Line

No matter what trimester you are in, the most important thing is to move with intention. Stay connected to your breath. Choose movements that make you feel good in your body right now. Your workouts will evolve from month to month and even from day to day, and that is perfectly normal.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency, confidence, and a deeper connection with your body as it grows and changes.

If you want trimester-specific workouts designed by certified prenatal fitness experts, our  ABC Fit Virtual Gym  is here for you. Inside our Video on Demand Library, you will find safe, effective, and fun workouts for every stage of pregnancy - whether you have ten minutes or thirty.

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