exercise heart rate ?

mrs.mastro

I just read a bunch of articles online saying that your heartbeat should not exceed 140bpm when pregnant.  I was on the treadmill tonight and using an actual heart rate monitor (not just holding the sensors), my heart rate was getting up to 150 when I ran at 7 mph.  I have run regularly 15-25 miles a week up until now, and I'm in great shape.  I was running up until Friday when I found out I was pregnant.  Do I still need to stay below 140?  I don't think I can run slow enough to keep it that low - I'd have to just stick with walking.

 Thanks!

bakedlaurabean

My Dr said I can workout at the same intensity. 140 would be ridiculously, laughably low for me--just a warmup, light walk. When I run, my heart rate is as high as 193 on sprints and it could go higher. During a regular pre-pregnancy workout, A good, consistent heartrate for me would be between 175-185.

Even though my Dr said to workout like normal, I don't feel comfortable with my heartrate being as consistently high as when I run, so I've been doing the elliptical and keeping my heartrate between 160-175 and then cooling down to 140. I tend to feel a little queasy and "off" at the beginning of my workout, so I'm just doing what feels good for my body.

Hope this helps! 

sugarbeetsy

My midwife told me the 140 thing is BS.

She said make sure you can still breathe okay and aren't turning blue.

Anything less than that is cool.

Drink lots of water (but you should be doing that anyway).

 

mrs.mastro

Thanks!  That helps a lot, especially since I haven't had a chance to talk to my doctor about it.  I am like you - 7 mph is slow for me usually, and even though I didn't regularly check my heart rate before, I know I've clocked in the 180s when doing sprints too.  I am definitely afraid to get it up that high now, but I don't feel that I am overexerting myself at all at 140, so I think I'll just see how high it will get as I increase my speed. 

Mainer-in-Texas

I have the same problem. When I asked my RE about it, he said not to get it about 120. I responded "120! I can't do anything but walk and keep it that low!" and then he back off and said the consensus in the medical community is that you can do what you were doing before you were PG. I mentioned to him that my HR got up to 175 running up hills before I was PG, so now I was trying to keep it below 150 by taking lots of walking breaks on my jog, and he said that I should keep doing that.

What I've read is that the thing to pay attention to is your perceived exertion - if you can't hold a conversation, you are pushing yourself too hard. I def used to do this before PG, so I've had to make a effort to take everything down a notch.

IrishBrideND

If you worked out before you were pregnant, you can continue to do it at the same level regradless of heart rate.

sherina825

The advice that my doctor gave me didn't relate directly to my heart rate at all.  She informed me that with cardio to make sure I can carry on a normal conversation without being winded.  To me that allows me to go up to about 165 without any shortness of breath.  So I guess it will directly relate to how in shape you were prior to being pregnant. 

Jennicap

I run outside and use a HR moniter. I get up to 165-175 and my midwife is fine with it But I have also been running for over 2 years and was training for a half marathon when I got KUed. At normal even pace I'm about 160ish

maeghan21

My Dr just told me to stay at my comfortableexercise level, no trying no things and exerting myself. No pushing it that last little bit and feeling the burn, no getting out of breath etc. But if you can run 5 miles without getting out of breath and feeling like you are going to die, then go for it.

nic_ione

I had the same question when I first found out- I asked the NP at my appointment and she said I can continue to run even though my heart rate gets into the 180-190s. She just said to listen to my body and do what feels best. I've tried to take it a little easier, but there is no way I could get a good workout and have my HR under 140.

kt&charles

DR TOLD ME 140 ALSO. I RAN REGULARLY BEFORE PREGNANCY, BUT NOW IM SHORT OF BREATH AND GET PRETTY TIRED FROM BRISK WALKING! I THINK RUNNING IS FINE, BUT LISTEN TO YOUR BODY (PAINS ETC) AND DONT TRY TO TOUGH THROUGH THE PAINS:)