What is the best way to keep my abdominal muscles tight/firm during pregnancy???

try these exercises...standing up, bend knees slightly. raise arms over head and do some belly dancing moves - rotate your hips around front, side, back, side and really feel the side muscles of your stomach move. you can also just do pelvic tilts in this position, and you pelvic tilts to the side and you can really feel the abs work. also on hands and knees arching your back up and down in the cat stretch position, this tones the belly. i am 32 weeks and still have some nice muscle tone on my belly. oh yeah and you have to keep the cardio up to burn fat!!!

Try pilates for pregnancy! Regular walking is also very helpful.

Genetics may play a role too. After my first three were born, I wasn't pudgy. ~shrug~ Be prepared to have some flabbiness there, but there's nothing wrong with trying to avoid that - within reason. Certainly none of the above suggestions will cause any harm.

you could try swimming and prenatal yoga but i should warn you to expect some flabby pudge. your body cant go through all the changes its doing now without some ill effects and don't forget that hormones play a big part in the relaxation of muscles during pregnancy.

Sorry, but there really isn't anything you can do now. They are meant to stretch and separate to accommodate your baby. If you had a tight stomach to begin with, chances are you can get it pretty tight again, but probably never the same.

After you give birth and have your 6 week check up, your OB will let you know when you can start doing abdominal workouts.

How exactly do you think you can do that? Your stomach is stretching! there is no way in hell you can keep it tight and to do so could possibly be dangerous to your pregnancy. Accept the fact that straight after the birth your tummy IS going to be flabby pudge...nothing you or anyone else can do about it. I would rather have my baby and a flabby tummy for a few months then no baby and a flat tummy...thats for sure! Welcome to the real world sweetheart!

Exercise. Unless you are told not to for a specific medical reason. Walking is good, dumbells, swimming, find a pregnant group that does exercising or start your own. Do a google search on good exercises for when pregnant.

Nothing you can do about it, 'vain mom'.