Pippa Middleton doesn't want 'penguin waddle'

7 September 2018

Pippa Middleton doesn't want to develop the "penguin-style waddle" in the final weeks of her pregnancy.

Pippa Middleton

The 35-year-old socialite and author - who is the sister of Duchess Catherine - has less than a month left until she's due to give birth to her and her husband James Matthews' first child and she has admitted she's been relying on barre-inspired workouts because she doesn't want to start plodding around.

Writing in her column for Waitrose Weekend, she said: "I feel far from a ballerina, but I'm equally determined not to break into a penguin-style waddle and plod around with bad posture. So with this in mind, I've continued to embrace barre-inspired workouts throughout pregnancy -- a form of exercise taken from ballet which involves the small movements that develop flattering muscle tone or so I hope."

The brunette beauty has managed to stay active throughout her pregnancy thus far but she did decide to give up running because she wanted to give her unborn child and body a rest from the strain.

She explained: "I stopped running -- not because I read it was unsafe, just because I rather liked the idea of giving my body (and growing baby) a rest from pavement pounding.

"I'm conscious of holding my tummy in (as if giving your baby a hug) to support my back and ensure that post-baby, my old favourite jeans will still fit... eventually."

As well as ballet, Pippa has been relying on swimming to help keep herself fit throughout her pregnancy.

She said recently: "Swimming throughout pregnancy offers a wonderful feeling of weightlessness.

"As the months pass, you feel heavier by the day, but being in water gives that floating, light-as-air feeling that soothes and relieves the body, counteracts increased back strain and stretches the legs from the growing bump. It's non-impact, gentle and relaxing.

"From personal experience, I'd confidently say I find it has been the most enjoyable and rewarding form of exercise since I found out I was expecting. It's comforting to know that it's safe throughout pregnancy, and you don't need to adapt and change too much (unlike most other sports).

"It's so good for you that you could swim every day - as long as you don't overexert yourself - right up until the end of the third trimester."

Pippa got engaged back in July 2016 and tied the knot with James in May 2017 at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, followed by a reception at her family home.