An 8 months pregnant California mother received online protest after photos of her lifting heavy weights despite her huge baby bump surfaced on Facebook, New York Daily news reported Friday.

Eight months pregnant Lea-Anne Ellison of Los Angeles received a public protest online after photos of her weightlifting just two weeks before her due were posted on Facebook last Sunday. Amid the outcry, Ellison maintains that her exercise routine is perfectly healthy.

"8 months pregnant with baby number 3 and CrossFit has been my sanity," the 35-year-old mother wrote in the caption. "I have been CrossFitting for 2 1/2 years and...strongly believe that pregnancy is not an illness, but a time to relish in your body's capabilities to kick ass."

Despite her claim, a large number of commenters posted their grievances on the pregnant mom's workout photo, which has received more than 16,000 likes and over 3,000 shares by Friday morning.

"This is actually sickening, I hope pregnant around the world do not do this kind of crap," one comment read. "I am a crossfit enthusiast but I DO NOT recommend this at all."

The commenter continued by saying that the California mom's workout photo gives "people the wrong message that this is OKAY when it's not!!!!"

"If anything happens to your baby due to your stupidity, I hope you'll be able to handle your guilt," another person commented. "Pregnancy is NOT the time to be taking stupid risks."

Nevertheless, the Los Angeles mom received positive feedback and support from several fitness enthusiasts.

"The key is listening to your body! As a medical professional, I find it appalling the number of people who treat pregnancy as an illness," one commenter wrote. "Multiple studies have shown that you can continue to safely workout, including lifting weights as long as you did it prepregnancy!!"

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that pregnant women should allot at least 30 minutes or more in exercise provided there are no medical or obstetric complications involved.

However, the organization stressed on its website that medical experts should review the potential risks in certain sports activities that pregnant women might be inclined of doing. For example, in scuba diving, the group said, that this would expose the fetus to possible decompression sickness.

Other high-impact sports were also listed to the to-be-avoided list of the site, but weightlifting was not included.

"In general, participation in a wide range of recreational activities appears to be safe," the organization maintained.

Meanwhile, Ellison continued to be surprised on the responses her photo has been receiving.

"Thank you to all who posted and continue to post positive, supportive comments regarding my photo," she wrote. "I had NO IDEA what a stir this would create....It makes me feel proud and loved and STRONGER!!!!"

According to several reports, Ellison, a mother of an 8-year-old boy and a 12-year-old daughter, is the latest mom to spark a public outcry online for doing rigorous physical activities while months shy from delivering a baby.

Another mom, Amber Miller, also received some lashing when she decided to join the 2011 Chicago Marathon despite being 38 weeks and five days pregnant that time. But the 27-year-old proved everyone wrong after giving birth to a healthy baby girl at the finish line.