Instagram model Hannah Polites responds to claims pregnancy is 'unhealthy' because of small bump

'It’s truly shocking to read some of the comments regarding my health and that of my unborn baby'

Hannah Polities was criticised on social media (Getty)

An Australian Instagram model has been accused of having an “unhealthy” approach to her pregnancy after sharing pictures of herself on her page.

Hannah Polites, 24, has amassed 1.2 million followers with posts about fitness and exercise, something she has continued with throughout her pregnancy.

Polites, who is 25 weeks pregnant with her second child and also works as a midwife, said she was appalled by some of the messages she had received in response to pictures of her stomach.

“It’s truly shocking to read some of the comments regarding my health and that of my unborn baby, especially at a time where women are particularly vulnerable and can be more sensitive to bullying,” she told Gold Coast Bulletin.

Polites said her baby is bigger than average for women at her stage in their pregnancy.

“I do not take the negative comments to heart, especially when I know I am making informed decisions when it comes to nutrition and exercise in pregnancy and motherhood.”

The comments directed at Polites echo messages received by Australian fitness trainer Chontel Duncan, who was questioned for continuing to work-out throughout her pregnancy. Criticism began after Duncan shared an image of her small stomach next to a friend, who was four weeks further into her pregnancy and much bigger, to prove how women carry to full term differently.

Duncan said she was similarly criticised for being unhealthy, despite being advised by her doctor that her exercises were safe.

At the time, Duncan told the Independent: “For my pregnancy, training was completely safe due to my lifestyle and my current health condition prior to falling pregnant. So basically the rule of thumb is you can't go doing something new, but you can (if this is a healthy pregnancy with no complications) continue your normal lifestyle within reason.

“I did have to modify exercises, stop pad holding, cut out unsafe jumps, cut out some supplements, but for the most part I was able to maintain my active lifestyle.”

Sarah McMullen, head of research at the childbirth and parenting group NCT, said exercise is encouraged during pregnancy, but women should consult with their GPs about what kinds of exercise or training they do and how frequently.

“Staying active during pregnancy is important for both physical and mental health. It can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, boost the mother’s mood and improve sleep as well as having many other benefits,” Ms McMullen said.

“However, we would encourage pregnant women to speak to their doctor or midwife about the type and amount of exercise they do, particularly if they are thinking of starting something new or if they weren’t very active before becoming pregnant. NCT has a pregnancy exercise safety checklist on its website (www.nct.org.uk) as well as other general information about exercising in pregnancy.”