Boxing at 16 weeks?

betsykirk13

Hi there,
I am 16 weeks (barely showing) and I was boxing today for exercise and it was quite vigorous, ie: rapid movements side to side to perform hook punches and a fair bit of twisting through my torso. I boxed a lot before I was pregnant and I felt absolutely fine during my session today but I started to worry that I was shaking the baby up and it was bouncing off the walls inside me, so I stopped. Again, I feel absolutely normal and fine now but I'm freaking out a little that I may have hurt it!?!?
You think I'm being silly and its super protected in there?
Any advice to calm my angst would be helpful!

jennypolkadots

Your baby can't bounce off the walls of your uterus any easier than you can bounce of the sides of a swimming pool. You know when you buy a fish from the pet shop and they put it in a bag of water until you get home. On the way home the water is getting shaken but the fish stays in the middle. A little different in that there is an air pocket above the fish, but still the same idea. The baby is suspended in amniotic fluid which is encased in a bag of waters inside of your uterus...and other than sensing your raised heart beat, was totally unaware of what you were doing. He or she can't even hear yet so was probably fast asleep through the whole thing if I had to guess. 

Don't do anything that could cause blow to the stomach area. Also, try not to call your son or daughter an "it" lol he or she is a person! 

tiggyt

I specifically asked my doctor about boxing (hitting the heavy bag alone - not boxing against other people obviously!) because that's my form of exercise, and she said it was totally fine.  She gave the warning PPs mentioned about kickboxing once your center of gravity shifts, but regular punching is totally fine for the baby, as long as you follow all of the other recommendations for pregnant exercise (like be extra hydrated and don't work out so vigorously you can't talk during, etc.)

pearldee

I already ran a half marathon at 12 weeks and running another next weekend at 21 weeks. If it's something you did before you were pregnant...and your body is used it it... You should be okay!

WeLiveInMaine

I still do the kids karate classes (assistant instructor) but I have slowed down quite a lot. I avoid sudden movements, rolling, impact, anything that feels bad I skip. Just be careful and listen to your body. Keep in good communication with your doctor about it.