Boost your strength, reduce pregnancy pains, and prepare for postpartum with this 2nd-trimester, 20-minute pregnancy workout! This prenatal workout uses TRX suspension straps to create a pregnancy-safe, low-impact workout you can do at home or outside.
While some pregnant women shy away from prenatal fitness, it does come with some great perks:
- Fitness is a great stress reliever
- Exercising correctly while pregnant can help reduce pregnancy-associated pain
- Staying active during pregnancy helps prepare your body for the workout that is labor
- Staying fit while pregnant allows your body to recover better post-baby.
As a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist,iIf you're still on the fence, check out the massive benefits of staying fit while pregnant.
Staying active is truly awesome for expecting moms.
However, one thing to note is that "fit" looks different for all pregnant women! There is no perfect kind of pregnancy workouts as each and every pregnancy is unique.
So place the focus on staying active with an exercise program and targeting the muscles directly responsible for reducing aches and pains while pregnant and in the early postpartum.

What To Focus On When Working Out While Pregnant
Staying strong while pregnant doesn't have to be intense or take a lot of time- exercise safely! Long gone are the days when you can hit the gym for ninety minutes. Instead, the focus should be on preparing the body for labor and recovery. Focus on:
- keep the glutes both strong and mobile (here are my favorite pregnancy hip exercises)
- work on strengthening the back of the body, specifically the upper back muscles to help counter postural changes
- strengthen the arms- you'll be doing a lot of carrying soon!
- engage the core muscles. Though they are stretching, they can still engage and doing so will help a lot postpartum
20 Minute Pregnancy Workout
Though this pregnancy workout is geared toward the second trimester, it works well as your pregnancy progresses as well.
It's circuit-based, meaning all the exercises are back to back, but you can move through them at your own pace.
The repetitions are not too high in volume that you'll be gasping but they will challenge your body.
Equipment You Need
This prenatal workout calls for TRX Suspension straps. These straps are easily one of my favorite pieces of home workout gear.
For expecting women especially they're ideal because they use your own bodyweight against you but you're in control.
They're also low-impact and based on your position, you can make the exercise easier or harder. Great to scale day by day!
Lastly, they're wonderful for beginners for these exact reasons also.
However, if you don't have TRX straps, a resistance band can be used in its place!

TRX Low Row | 10 |
Y-Fly | 10 |
Squat Step Outs | 30 seconds |
Chest Press | 10 |
High Row | 10 |
Hip Thrust | 15 |
Rest as long as needed | 2-3 sets |
Perform all exercises in order for the prescribed number of repetitions. At the end of the last exercise, rest until fully recovered and repeat for a total of 2-3 sets.
Need more support? More visuals? Just MORE? Hit up the workout page and check out the follow-along pregnancy workouts!
Notes On The Workout
For the upper body exercises make sure to maintain good core engagement and an activated plank position throughout the motion.
Remember that the closer you are to the anchor point the harder the exercise.
Take the feet hip-width apart to give you a good base of support.
The video shows the squat step outs done with a mini loop, however, it's not needed! The step outs are equally hard without it.
Though the workout doesn't specifically use pelvic floor exercises, your pelvic floor can be worked into the workout by how you're connecting your breath. Not everyone needs to contract their pelvic floor though so check with a physio before adding endless kegals and contractions.
How To Modify The Prenatal Workout
This pregnancy workout is extremely basic- which means there are lots of ways to modify it! If you don't have TRX suspension straps, use resistance bands instead for the exercises. They're still low-impact but still provide external resistance.
A few things to remember as your pregnancy progresses:
- each day is different, adjust the prenatal workout based on how you feel that day
- drink lots of water during the workout and make sure you have something to eat beforehand
- take all the rest you need- this isn't a sprint
- focus on engaging the muscles and not just going through the motions, this makes all the difference
Don't Forget To Pin This Second Trimester Prenatal Workout

Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Workouts
Lots of types of exercise can be safe during pregnancy. Strength training, walking, hiking, swimming, and dance are all great ways to be active while pregnant. Focus on workouts that are low-impact, stay off your back after the first trimester, and feel good for your body.
Squats are a wonderful pregnancy exercise because while they strengthen the hips and legs, they also open up the hips and help move baby into position. Since there are so many variations, find one that feels good for the stage you're in.
This 20-minute pregnancy workouts can be done 2-3 times per week on non-consecutive days. Make sure you're resting between workout days and stretching as needed.
Working Out While Pregnant
Pregnancy fitness is still very misunderstood and often overwhelming! If you need some guidance, below are a lot of resources I've put together over the past five years.
Keep in mind also that I share a lot of pregnancy-safe, full video, follow-along prenatal workouts on my YouTube channel.
These prenatal workouts are low impact, pelvic floor-supportive, require minimal equipment, and give expecting moms a great visual and the tips you need on how to perform the exercises correctly.
- Tips to consider when staying fit in the second trimester
- Tips for staying active in the third trimester
- Pregnancy-safe exercises
- Alleviating postpartum back pain
- Why you should see a pelvic floor physio
- Crucial postpartm exercises
Do you have a pregnancy-related question? Drop it below! We all need more SUPPORT when we're pregnant so I'm happy to help xx
Jamie King
Thanks for the workout inspiration, I've been looking to shake up my workouts now that I'm pregnant (also in my second trimester!) so this is extremely helpful!
fitasamamabear
Ohhh so many congrats! Give the workout a try if you can and enjoy it- good luck and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy! xx
magen
I love how doable this is. I wish I would have seen this when I was pregnant. I gained twice the recommended weight.
fitasamamabear
I personally love staying active while pregnant buuutttt I also believe that your body is going to do whatever the hell it wants in pregnancy so I wouldn't put too much stock in the weight gain 🙂
Jyll Hoyrup
I love that you are talking about doing Real workouts while pregnant! It's a great reference for those who want to keep up with their exercise regime!
fitasamamabear
Thanks so much Jyll! I loved being able to workout with both my pregnancies and it has so many benefits- not in the least that I get to stay somewhat strong!
Christie Moeller
WOW talk about MOM Goals! Go Girl!
xoxo Christie
https://www.icanstyleu.com/blog/
fitasamamabear
Thanks Christie!
Nadalie Bardowell
This is awesome, I love that you have a home gym. I have read that exercise is great when your pregnant as long as you don't over work yourself but it will help with relieving lower back pain.
fitasamamabear
My gym is my favorite place in the house haha Exercise comes with a lot of benefits when pregnant; better post partum recovery, easier to manage labor pain, mood boosts and yes it does help relieve back pain! I worked out for both my pregnancies and it was perfect!
fitasamamabear
My gym is my favorite place in the house haha Exercise comes with a lot of benefits when pregnant; better post partum recovery, easier to manage labor pain, mood boosts and yes it does help relieve back pain! I worked out for both my pregnancies and it was perfect!
Andrea Florescu
Every pregnant woman should workout during pregnancy ??. This is a great routine
fitasamamabear
Thanks Andrea! I think working out is different for each women in pregnancy but this is definitely a fun workout to prep for labor and recovery!
Shell
These are great tips for staying healthy for mamas that are able to work out during pregnancy. I was on bed rest from 3 months with my second so exercise was not an option.
fitasamamabear
Oh no! Bed rest is one of my biggest fears- But it's definitely worth keeping that little bundle safe!
linda
Fabulous! I was lucky enough to be able to exercise through all six of my pregnancies. You look great!
fitasamamabear
Ahh good on you! It really does keep you sane- and thank you!