9-month-pregnant woman still practices pole dancing. By Huang Jin (People's Daily Online) 15:20, March 22, 2016

Zhao Yitong, 27, a fitness instructor in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning province, stillkeeps physical exercises including yoga and pole dancing during her pregnancy. She evenkeeps the abdominal muscles in the ninth month of pregnancy. Her photos and story wentviral online.

Zhao is gymnastics and pole dancing instructor. In the fourth month of the pregnancy, shestill participated in a national pole dancing competition and finished sixth in duet dancing. "At that time no one knew I was pregnant. If they did, no one would allow me toparticipate in the competition," Zhao said.

Thanks to the uninterrupted exercises during the pregnancy, Zhao is proud to still keepthe abs. "Before the pregnancy, I had six-pack abs. During the pregnancy, the uterus hasstretched, pushing the abs aside to waist. However, they still can be seen when I do thestrength exercises," Zhao said.

Zhao said that her family members were at first against her exercise, but they becamequite supportive later. "They know that I love sports and I also have adapted to thisexercise. They no longer opposed anymore," Zhao said.

Zhao said that her husband actually cared a lot about the baby's health. He kept asking thedoctor if the baby was in good condition when she had four-dimensional ultrasound lasttime. The doctor told him that the baby is even better than normal. Zhao is expected togive birth in early April. She hopes everything will go well.

Zhao's photos and story triggered hot debate online. Some netizens admired what she did.Some thought that she only cared about her interest, regardless of the baby's health.

Ma Xin, a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology, said: "If the woman does exercise frequently before pregnancy, it's normal and healthy if she keeps doing it." She added if the mother’s strong abs can prevent the back pain during the pregnancy, facilitate accouchement and help postpartum recovery.