Dr. app & exercise

cholzer

I have a dr. app tomorrow with my regular ob.  Twins aren't her thing so for all of my ultrasounds I go to the high risk dr. but I'm wondering (because she has an ultrasound machine in her office) will she use that to check for heart beats or will she just listen?  Also, before preg I would walk 2 to 3 miles a day but little by little I've been cutting that down because I feel alot of pressure after a mile.  I'm 15 weeks, should I stop walking?

atc282

Not sure about the HB check. When I was living abroad, I went to a midwife in between visits from my peri and she used a doppler during these visits to listen for the babies' heartbeats.Perhaps your OB can do the same?

As for exercise, I'd check with your OB and esp. your high risk Dr. I was active before PG and my peri has approved exercise along the way. I still exercise just a lot less and on a much more relaxed scale. At 28 wks my peri said to keep on, so it is just a matter of what your drs. say and how YOU are feeling--if you don't feel good walking anymore, then cut back but if you enjoy it and there are no risk factors in continuing, I'd say go for it (with your drs. approval of course).

GL!!!

macchiatto

I went to a high-risk OB practice for my first 31 weeks and got a u/s at every visit where they measured my cervix first by internal u/s and then did an abdominal u/s to measure the heartbeats and the babies.

I was still walking and doing very low-impact aerobics till I was about 28 weeks (though definitely far more gently than I would non-pregnant). If you're getting uncomfortable after a mile, I would stop when you get uncomfortable and maybe walk a little more slowly when you start off? But that's definitely something to ask your doctor.

blossom

Yes, you're regular OB will still be able to check the heartbeats with her ultrasound machine. She'll be able to listen with a doppler too.

As far as exercise, you should always listen to your body and how you're feeling with your level of exertion. I'm still working out 5x a week. I have just cut back on the intensity level and I always stop when I don't feel right.

I think with walking you should be ok, but ask your doctor if you're concerned.

gumiberg

I exercised the first 30 weeks of pregnancy (running the first 24 weeks, swimming the remainder until bedrest at the end, and even then my dr allowed light pool activity).  I agree with the PP about listening to your body.

My OB used a doppler for the heart beats.  

finallyreilly

In my ob's office it depends on the doctor I get.  My regular ob uses u/s to look at the heartbeats but the other doctors use a doppler.

I was a walker as well and did about 2-3 miles with my dog up until week 14 and cut back to 1-2 up until week 18 when I started having lots of pain and pressure.  At that point I cut back to about 1/2 mile a day until that got to be too much about 2 weeks ago.

I don't think there is any one rule, but it really depends on how you feel and your ob's advice.  You should definitely listen to your body and if you are feeling pressure, you need to cut back.

finallyreilly

Oh, I also switched to water aerobics to replace the fact that I wasn't walking.  It was much easier on my body and I was able to do that up until 2 weeks ago.

ErinCB

My peri does all the u/s's at this point and my OB just checks for HB's via doppler.

Re: exercise. It depends on how you are feeling and what your Dr. says. I have a 20m old at home and so while my gym time is none these days, we would go on long walks each morning, I'd chase him around the park, etc. I started cramping everynight. My peri checked my cervical length and all was fine but told me I really need to take it easy. This totally surprised me b/c with my PG w/ DS, I was still working out at the gym all the time. It can be so different for every person and every pregnancy. At this point, I can't tell who it sucks more for--me b/c I can't be as active or my DS b/c I had to cut out that long morning walk we both loved. ::sigh:: we'll pick it back up once the twins come!