Pregnancy and running - getting harder

willisbf

I'm 27 1/2 weeks pregnant. I still run, but I'm finding that on most days I have to take more and more walk breaks. I know that carrying extra weight makes running more difficult, but I'm only gaining about 1/2-3/4 lb/week and I started at a normal weight for my height. Can anyone shed light on why running gets harder?

I feel stupid for asking, but I'm trying to figure out the scientific reason. Is it just the weight or is the task of creating life really THAT tolling on the body? 

Laxbugg1410

I'm still (barely) running- about 20 mins every other day (then walking for another 25-30mins) and walking on alternating days.

My reasons for taking walk breaks vary- sometimes it's bladder pressure, sometimes it's lightning crotch (shooting cervical pains), sometimes I'm just tired, and lately my feet have been cramping (I think they are swelling a bit). Sometimes I think the normal pressure on your body of carrying extra weight in one location is compounded by the bouncing of running...and bladder pressure and fatigue and swelling don't help.

 All that said, I would keep it up as long as possible. My bump is still pretty small. I only started having back pain the past few days and I haven't really had much swelling. Mostly I've felt great and I attribute that in large part to my ability to keep exercising.

GL!

 

impreg

i've noticed it's gotten harder for me, too. the baby requires oxygen, i can tell that i need it more when i run than i used to, so i end up going slower, so that my breaths are steady so that we both get enough oxygen. there's also an increase in blood supply, which makes our heart rate go up faster than normal. the added weight we're carrying also slows us down (atleast for me!)

WinesNotWhines

It's gotten much harder for me too, especially over the past few weeks. I think there are multiple reasons: you have increased blood volume, less oxygen, your insides are all squished, and you're carrying extra weight in your abdominal area, which puts stress on your abdominal muscles, bladder, and lower back. Growing another human being definitely takes a toll on your body!

JG362009

Yep, still running but it is getting harder. For me, it's mainly been the additional weight and my arches have hurt quite a bit too.  I now only go around 3 miles; I don't have to stop (yet!) but I am much, much slower.  I still love it though -- keep it up if you can, I think it's made my pregnancy very easy and complication-free!

jlynns05

I ran until the day I went into labor and around 27-28 weeks its like a switch flipped and running got so much harder. I think some of it was the weight, I didn't gain much but it definitely throws things off. Some of it was swelling which caused aches and pains and numbness in my lower legs. Some of it was the relaxin, which I didn't really realize it was the relaxin until I started running again after the baby and it was 10 times worse! Some of it was the position of the baby, she found my sciatic around that time. Some of it was the growing discomfort of her getting bigger and just running out of room in there-this can make it harder to breath (less room for your lungs to expand) or cause heartburn. Some of it was the exhaustion from not sleeping well. There are so many factors. But hang in there, I think it helped a TON in my labor and delivery which was awesome. My worst run ever was the one the day before I went into labor, up until that run it wasn't so bad!