Learn how to safely and effectively prescribe strength training during pregnancy and postpartum using evidence-based frameworks, practical coaching tools, and real-world case studies you can apply with clients immediately.

Strength Training for Pregnancy & Postpartum Clients

Evidence-Based Pregnancy & Postpartum Coaching

The author

What You Will Be Able to Do by the End of This Course

The Guidelines This Course Is Built On

Built for Monday Morning - Your toolkit

Entry Requirements & Prerequisites

How We Support You Through This Course

Course Introduction

Before you can prescribe a single exercise, you need to understand what a personal trainer is — and is not — responsible for when working with a pregnant or postpartum client.

Professional Role, Scope & Referral

Support & Resources

Module Introduction

Module at a glance

Part 1: Why This Matters

Part 2: The Role & Scope of a PT

Part 3: Screening & Risk Identification

Part 4: Referral & Communication

PT Blueprint

Applied Reasoning

Knowledge Task

Applied Task

References

Module 1: Professional Role, Scope & Referral

Why the body changes in pregnancy, what those changes mean for training, and how evidence replaces fear with confidence.

Understanding Risk, Physiology & Evidence

Part 1: The Evidence Landscape

Part 2: Hormonal Adaptations

Part 3: Cardiovascular & Respiratory Changes

Part 4: Musculoskeletal Changes & Centre of Mass

Part 5: Thermoregulation & Fatigue

Part 6: Common Fears vs Evidence

Knowledge Check

Module 2: Understanding Risk, Physiology & Evidence


Module 2 gave you the physiology. This module gives you the application — trimester by trimester, decision by decision.

Trimester-Specific Training Adaptations

Module at glance

Part 1: The Trimester Framework Three Phases, Three Goals

Part 2: First Trimester: Foundation

Part 3: Second Trimester: Build & Adapt

Part 4: Third Trimester: Taper & Prepare

Part 5: Volume, Intensity & Rest Management

Part 6: Core & Pelvic Floor Strategy for all Trimesters

Module 3: Trimester-Specific Training Adaptations

The pelvic floor is the most misunderstood structure in pregnancy fitness. It is over-feared, over-cued, over-squeezed, and simultaneously blamed for every problem from back pain to incontinence — often without evidence. This module replaces the noise with anatomy, evidence, and practical coaching tools.

Pelvic Floor, Core System

Part 1: Pelvic Floor Anatomy What a PT Needs to Know

Part 2: Pelvic Floor Function During Pregnancy

Part 3: Breathing Mechanics The Piston Model

Part 4: Pressure Management Bracing vs Bearing Down

Part 5: Diastasis Recti What It Is, What It Is Not

Part 6: DRA Myths vs Evidence Five Claims Addressed

Module 4: Pelvic Floor, Core System

Modules 2, 3, and 4 gave you the physiology, the trimester framework, and the pelvic floor system. This module is where it becomes a programme. It answers the question every PT actually wants answered: what do I do in the session?

Strength Training During Pregnancy

Part 1: Five Core Coaching Principles

Part 2: Movement Patterns Squat, Hinge, Press, Pull

Part 3: Equipment and Positioning Barbell, Dumbbell, Machine

Part 4: Load, Tempo and Autoregulation

Part 5: Weekly Structure Programme Examples

Part 6: Progression and Regression

Module 5 - Strength Training During Pregnancy

This is the module that separates a professional from someone who is guessing. Every PT working with pregnant clients will eventually encounter a symptom that requires an immediate decision: stop, modify, or refer. This module gives you the framework to make that decision calmly, correctly, and within scope every time.

Pregnancy Red Flags, Modifications

Part 1: Contraindications When to Stop vs Modify

Part 2: Warning Signs During Sessions Stop-Modify-Refer

Part 3: Common Pregnancy Conditions PT Management

Part 4: Clearance & Professional Protection Scope, Documentation, Referral

Part 5: Medical Clearance What It Does and Does Not Mean

Module 6: Pregnancy Red Flags, Modifications

This module is the bridge between pregnancy coaching and postpartum coaching. Before you can programme a return to training, you need to understand what the body has been through — and what it is still going through in the weeks and months after birth.

Postpartum Physiology

Part 1: Birth Type and Immediate Recovery

Part 2: Tissue Healing Timelines Beyond the 6-Week Myth

Part 3: Hormonal Changes Postpartum Hormonal Shifts

Part 4: Sleep Deprivation and Training Capacity

Part 5: Breastfeeding Considerations Exercise Programming

Part 6: Energy Availability and the Postpartum Athlete

Module 7: Postpartum Physiology

Screening is not a formality. It is the evidence-based starting point for every postpartum programme. A PT who skips screening and programmes from gut feel is operating without the information they need.

Postpartum Screening, Readiness

Part 1: The Screening Framework Scope and Principles

Part 2: Intake Screening Five Essential Questions

Part 3: Pelvic Floor Symptom Check Structured Conversation

Part 4: Core Function Screening Observable Checks

Part 5: Movement Readiness Screening Bodyweight Safety Check

Part 6: Readiness Decision The Traffic Light System

Module 8: Postpartum Screening, Readiness

Modules 1 through 8 gave you the physiological foundation, the clinical framework, and the screening system. This module is where you actually build the programme. It brings together everything you know about pregnancy physiology, postpartum healing, exercise selection, and client individuality into practical, evidence-based templates.

Evidence-Based Programming for Pregnancy & Postpartum

Part 1: Programming Principles Volume, Intensity, Frequency

Part 2: Exercise Selection Logic Across Phases

Part 3: Load Prescription Progression & Deload

Part 4: Beginner vs Trained Two Frameworks

Part 5: Five Programme Templates Starting Frameworks

Part 6: What Bad Programming Looks Like

Module 9: Evidence-Based Programming for Pregnancy & Postpartum

This module is where your screening knowledge meets real clinical presentations. The conditions covered here — prolapse, incontinence, diastasis recti, low back and pelvic pain, hip pain, and C-section scar issues — are the conditions your postpartum clients will most commonly be managing.

Common Postpartum Issues

Part 1: Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Part 2: Postpartum Incontinence 

Part 3: Diastasis Recti Postpartum Function Under Load

Part 4: Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain Different Rules

Part 5: Hip Pain Postpartum GTPS & Flexor Patterns

Part 6: C-Section Scar Awareness & Adhesions

Module 10: Common Postpartum Issues

Every module before this one gave you the evidence base — the physiology, the screening, the programming, the red flags. This module is about what you do with all of that in a real coaching relationship. The most evidence-based programme in the world will fail if the client does not trust you, does not understand the decisions you are making, or does not feel safe enough to tell you when something is wrong.

Coaching Pregnant & Postpartum Women

Part 1: Language That Builds Confidence

Part 2: Managing Expectations and The Coaching Conversation

Part 3: Goal Setting With Pregnant and Postpartum Clients

Part 4: Client Education Evidence Over Argument

Part 5: Barriers to Adherence Practical Solutions

Part 6: Nutrition & Environment Coaching Within Scope

Module 11: Coaching Pregnant, Postpartum Women

Professional practice is not a set of rules — it is a set of habits. Screen every client. Document every session. Refer when in doubt. Work with the team.

Professional Practice for Pregnancy & Postpartum Coaching

Part 1: Professional Standards What Qualified Practice Requires

Part 2: Developing and Monitoring Programmes

Part 3: The Multidisciplinary Team Working Together

Part 4: Risk Management Emergency Readiness

Congratulations, you did it!

Module 12: Professional Practice for Pregnancy & Postpartum Coaching

Learn to strength train your pregnant and postpartum clients safely and effectively. Learn what to do, what not to do, how to adapt training, and how to program across each trimester and postpartum stage using evidence-based coaching principles.


Strength Training for Pregnancy & Postpartum Clients

Catarina Richmond

Course content