Pregnancy and Exercise: Controversial Facebook Photo Ignites Debate

A former California bodybuilder recently triggered a whirlwind of controversy after posting a picture of herself on Facebook in which the mother-of-two is seen pregnant and lifting weights.

"8 months pregnant with baby number 3," Lea-Ann Ellison captioned the photo, adding "I have been CrossFitting for 2½ years and ... strongly believe that pregnancy is not an illness, but a time to relish in your body's capabilities to kick ass."

The response has been overwhelming, prompting nearly 20,000 "likes" and more than 3,000 shares in less than a week.

The post has drawn ire, too, with many accusing Ellison of putting the baby at risk -- an assertion that has led way to a highly-publicized discussion on what is healthy when it comes to pregnancy and exercise.

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), "The ... changes of pregnancy may interfere with the ability to engage safely in some forms of physical activity." For this reason, the ACOG states that "A woman's overall health, including obstetric and medical risks, should be evaluated before prescribing an exercise program."

Far from deeming working out as generally unsafe, however, the organization notes: "Generally, participation in a wide range of recreational activities appears to be safe during pregnancy," though each sport should be reviewed individually for its own set of risks.

Activities that pose a high risk of trauma to the abdominal area should be avoided, according to the ACOG, as should scuba diving as it puts the fetus at an increased risk for decompression sickness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College of Sports Medicine together generally recommend 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise "most, if not all, days of the week." According to the ACOG, except for in the case of a medical complication, the recommendation still stands during pregnancy.

As to the definition of "moderate," Dr. Siobhan Dolan, an ob-gyn and medical adviser for March of Dimes, says it depends on what the woman was engaged in previous to pregnancy.

"Pregnancy is a great motivator," Dolan told CNN, explaining that women who did not exercise previous to pregnancy should start slow with an activity like walking, and build from there.