Australian CrossFit trainer Revie Jane is the latest woman to be criticized for working on her fitness while pregnant.
The online criticism started on Boxing Day, shortly after she posted a video of herself lifting 88-pound weights. She wrote that she did six sets of five repetitions, “stayed super hydrated,” and kept her body temperature low with a wet towel and a fan.
Despite having cleared her workout regime with her doctor, it didn’t take long for her followers to pass judgment.
“I thought pregnant women weren’t suppose to do heavy lifting like that?” one woman commented on her Instagram post.
“Is that safe??” another wrote.
“That doesn’t look safe,” someone added.
The comments got worse when media outlets picked up the story, according to Jane.
“People have left comments such as, ‘OMG how selfish are these cows not being able to give it a rest for a few weeks for the safety of their babies!’
“‘If you’re having a baby, your child in your belly should always take priority over your figure. And if not, then don’t bother having one!'”
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Jane fired back at her critics in a Facebook post.
“Exercise does NOT hurt my baby, or me, but brazen, mean, uneducated comments do,” she wrote.
The expectant mother, who’s six months pregnant, also received a lot of support though.
Priya Sokhal, who identifed herself as an Obstetrician & Gynecologist and avid Crossfitter on Jane’s Facebook page, commended her strength before listing all the potential benefits of her workouts.
They ranged from less pain in her third trimester thanks to a stronger back, to a reduced risk of developing gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, and a speedier post-labour recovery.
“And probably most of all,” Sokhal wrote. “Your mental health will be in tip top shape enabling your baby to also feel the happy hormones circulating — increasing your bonding further.”
“For reducing all these risks in-utero you have also reduced your babies’ LIFETIME risk of many other diseases as well.”
READ MORE: 2015: The year people really cared about how pregnant women looked
Just this past June, an Australian fitness model came under fire in a similar situation. The only difference was that she was lifting 66 pounds while carrying twins.
WATCH: Sophie Guidolin, a 26-year-old fitness model, trainer and nutritionist, was also 26 weeks pregnant when she was criticized for working out.
Dr. Eileen Park, a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor who specializes in fertility and pregnancy, told Global News at the time that she always recommends moderate exercise.
What exactly that means will vary from person to person.
Model Sarah Stage received similar criticism this year for how toned her small baby bump was shortly before her due date.
She later gave birth to a healthy eight-pound baby.
WATCH: Dr. Brett Belchetz breaks down whether or not pregnant women should work out.
With files from Jenny Sung, Global News
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