Pregnant woman still weight-lifting in labour (Photo)

Meghan Umphres Leatherman was still pumping weights as part of her gruelling fitness regime – that also combines gymnastics and cardio – when she was close to giving birth and already 1cm dilated.

The 33-year-old from Arizona, USA, was even lifting weights on the day she went into labour, having already broken records in the final days of her pregnancy.

And three days before her due date, she set new a new personal record, lifting 215lb deadlifts.

Mrs Leatherman insists that she and her baby are both healthier for the exercise which she reckons made her pregnancy easier.

Now she is settling in to life as a mum after giving birth to 6lb 11oz daughter, Florence Germaine.

She added: “I’ve talked to my doctor and she says I can go back to the gym within three weeks.

“I would never give up CrossFit – being fit helped me to conceive in the first place and it kept me healthy throughout my pregnancy.”

Mrs Leatherman first started lifting weights two years ago and was instantly hooked. She trains at a gymn in Phoenix with husband, Chad, 34.

Agencies/Canadajournal