8 Months Pregnant And Powerlifting?

[KingsOfTheDay]

California mother faces public outcry after posting photos of her lifting weights at 8 months pregnant

Lea-Anne Ellison, 35, of Los Angeles, sparked an online firestorm when pictures of the bodybuilding mom were posted on Facebook. Ellison — the mother of an 8-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl — was just two weeks shy of her due date when she was photographed lifting the weights. Despite a public outcry, Ellison maintains that her exercise routine is perfectly healthy.

BY JOE KEMP / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013, 9:18 AM

Lea-Anne Ellison, 35, sparked an online firestorm after pictures of the 8 1/2-month pregnant mom lifting weights were posted on Facebook.

A California mom sparked an online firestorm when a picture of the bodybuilder lifting weights at 8 months pregnant were posted on Facebook.

Lea-Anne Ellison, 35, was just two weeks shy of her due date when a photo of her posing with a barbell over her head was posted to a group page on the social media site on Sunday.

“8 months pregnant with baby number 3 and CrossFit has been my sanity,” Ellison wrote in the caption. “I have been CrossFitting for 2 1/2 years and...strongly believe that pregnancy is not an illness, but a time to relish in your body’s capabilities to kick ass.”

But a slew of commenters posted angry greivances on the picture — which boasted more than 16,000 likes and almost 3,000 shares by Friday morning.

“This is actually sickening, I hope pregnant around the world do not do this kind of crap,” one woman wrote. “I am a crossfit enthusiast but I DO NOT recommend this at all.”

The person continued by claiming the image gives “people the wrong message that this is OKAY when it’s not!!!!”

Ellison — the mother of an 8-year-old boy and a 12-year-old daughter — said she trains to maintain her 'HOT mom' image.

“If anything happens to your baby due to your stupidity, I hope you’ll be able to handle your guilt,” another person wrote. “Pregnancy is NOT the time to be taking stupid risks.”

But several fitness enthusiasts rallied support for the Los Angeles woman, who in an earlier post on her personal profile wrote that she trains in an effort to be a “HOT mom.”

“The key is listening to your body! As a medical professional, I find it appalling the number of people who treat pregnancy as an illness,” another woman wrote. “Multiple studies have shown that you can continue to safely workout, including lifting weights as long as you did it prepregnancy!!”

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 30 minutes or more of exercise a day is recommended so long as there are no medical or obstetric complications.

The group stresses on its website that all sports should be reviewed by a medical expert for potential risks, but activities like scuba diving — which would expose the fetus to possible decompression sickness — and other high-impact sports should be avoided. However, weightlifting is not listed as a problematic sport.

Scores of commenters were angered by the photos, but several supporters claim regular exercise is good for pregnant women.

“In general, participation in a wide range of recreational activities appears to be safe,” the site reads.

Ellison — the mother of an 8-year-old boy and 12-year-old daughter — is the latest woman to stir controversy when they continued rigorous physical activities while pregnant.

Amber Miller faced a public outcry she decided to run the Chicago Marathon in 2011 at 38 weeks and five days pregnant. Miller, then 27, gave birth to a healthy baby girl just hours after she crossed the finish line.

Ellison claimed to be surprised that the photograph prompted such a controversy.

“Thank you to all who posted and continue to post positive, supportive comments regarding my photo,” she wrote. “I had NO IDEA what a stir this would create....It makes me feel proud and loved and STRONGER!!!!”