Doctor said NO to exercise...::sigh::

lalique216

WTF!

So when i went for my 2nd OB visit this past wednesday, i asked my doctor if it was ok for me to start working out again. I asked because i was having some spotting and cramping around 5 wks and he had put me on bed rest till it stopped. Thankfully spotting didnt last long and its been a little over a month since it happened. Baby was perfectly fine at my last ultrasound, and was having a party in my belly.

His answer to me was NO! He said absolutely not, "do you want to lose your baby?!" (he has very little bed side manner). I told him that women have told me  that if i was active before i could continue to be just as active, but to moderate things a little. He responded with "you're young, you have lots of time after the baby to lose the weight. I need you to just be relaxing".

To me its not really all about the weight, its about my way of life. I'm an extremely active person. I'm a trained dancer, go to the gym religiously, and jog and box with my husband who is a personal trainer. Clearly I didnt want to jump into ALL of that, but at least be able to jog or go to the gym for a light workout. Basically stay healthy for the baby since my eating habits have changed quite a bit, and not for the better lol.

My question to you guys is:

should I just go ahead and do light workouts?

or should i follow doctors orders and call it quits?

grrrr...... TIA!

nygirl07

I'm the same way as you in that I'm really active and being told I couldn't work out would kill me!!   but if your Dr says not to I wouldn't....I would probably ask to what extent he means.  If I could still walk lightly on the treadmill and lift very light weights I would feel better

mrsashby

Maybe fine a new OB?  Sounds like he is a little old school.  If he was that concerned it sounds like you should still be on some type of rest...I would consult another OB.

insertclevername

I would follow the Drs. advice and then discuss it again the next time you have a Drs. visit.  You should be able take leisurely walks with your husband.  While that is not the exercise you are used to it may help relax you a bit.

lalique216

mrsashby:

Maybe fine a new OB?  Sounds like he is a little old school.  If he was that concerned it sounds like you should still be on some type of rest...I would consult another OB.

I've been off of bed rest, and feel totally fine. He literally was like "no working out till the baby is here". I would figure he would have a different view on things since he himself is pretty young, but no. I only bled lightly for about a week, and had light cramps for a couple hours, and that was 5 weeks ago. SIGH... 

cjisalock

I would absolutely be finding another OB who actually HAS bedside manners!  Maybe he has some serious medical concerns over your exercising right now and that is fine.  But that type of rude response just REALLY cheeses me off!  What lovely things might he have in mind to say during delivery???

evenstar622

NY Mama:

I would follow the Drs. advice and then discuss it again the next time you have a Drs. visit.? You?should be able?take leisurely walks with your husband.? While that is not the exercise you are used to it may help relax you a bit.

This. ?You should at least be able to go on a walk each day, I would think. ?But I wouldn't risk any exercise, even if it is just moderate. ?Can you try something different, non-aerobic, like yoga or something? ?I could be a fun change, and you wouldn't be risking anything if your heartrate isn't increased.?

tiffanyp

No exercise until the baby is here? What a load of crap.

cess525

Is there a way to get a second opinion.  Is there another doctor in that doctor group you can see?  I am extremely active.  Played tennis matches till  1 week before DD was born.  The only reason I didn't play that last week was because DD was breech and had dropped and my doctor was worried she might kick her way out (yeah happy thoughts).  If you really like this doctor ask him next time to explain why you aren't allowed to work out.   

Temp984666312503071

lalique216:

My question to you guys is:

should I just go ahead and do light workouts?

or should i follow doctors orders and call it quits?

grrrr...... TIA!

Hey...  I can relate.  Before I got pregnant with my DD I was an avid runner, swimmer, and pilates person.  It *is* a lifestyle - no doubt.

I got pregnant with twins.  At 7 weeks I started bleeding and that went on until I lost one of my twins (obviously I was on bed rest during the bleeding).  When my twin died I was put on bed rest because of the risk of spontaneous miscarriage that could put the other baby at risk.  Then, right when I thought all was well (22 weeks and my twin had pretty much be resorbed by my body) they discovered that my cervix was shortening.  Immediate "light duty" bedrest.  No walking, no working out at all...  go to work, come home, lay down. At work I sat at my desk with my feet elevated.

It was VERY HARD.  At the end of my pregnancy I was "lucky" in that I only gained 28 pounds...  But I had lost ALL of my endurance, muscle tone, etc.  But you know what?  I had a HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL baby girl.  It was worth everything.  I hired a trainer and got back into the best shape I could once I was cleared to 6w postpardum.  Now I am pregnant again (surprise!) and will likely have cervix issues that require bedrest again.  That is okay!  It is worth it. 

Here's the deal...  There are many many risks that bleeding/spotting put you at that your doctor doesn't tell you.  Cervix issues and pPROM to name two.  It doesn't surprise me that he woudl want you to take it easy.  Maybe once you hit 20 weeks and things are looking good with no bleeding and a long cervix he might ease up.  But he might not.  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

Lastly, if heaven forbid the worst was to happen (miscarriage, PTL, pPROM) you wouldn't want to feel a single ounce of guilt about it being caused by not listening to your doctor.  You are paying him because he has a much wider depth of experience than you.  And for the first time ever I know it is hard to hear that "exercise is bad".  It goes against everything you have ever known, right?  But you are spotting/bleeding and that is NOT NORMAL.  So right now, you don't have a perfectly normal pregnancy. 

Good luck and PLEASE listen to your doctor!  It is worth it!

 

Temp984666312503071

Okay... I just re-read.  You aren't spotting anymore?  And haven't for a whole month?

In that case, with everything else being normal, I would ask for a second opinion. 

At the end of the day, you WILL be okay and get back into shape either way.  But if I had the same circumstance as you I would also be annoyed..

lalique216

sweetheart18:

Okay... I just re-read.  You aren't spotting anymore?  And haven't for a whole month?

In that case, with everything else being normal, I would ask for a second opinion. 

At the end of the day, you WILL be okay and get back into shape either way.  But if I had the same circumstance as you I would also be annoyed..

yup! no spotting for the past 5 weeks! I only spotted for less than a week if im not mistaken. They had also told me it could have just been old blood from implantation, but they put me on bed rest just to be safe. 

lalique216

sweetheart18:

Okay... I just re-read.  You aren't spotting anymore?  And haven't for a whole month?

In that case, with everything else being normal, I would ask for a second opinion. 

At the end of the day, you WILL be okay and get back into shape either way.  But if I had the same circumstance as you I would also be annoyed..

yup! no spotting for the past 5 weeks! I only spotted for less than a week if im not mistaken. They had also told me it could have just been old blood from implantation, but they put me on bed rest just to be safe. 

jdmiller28

Follow your doctor's orders. He's probably just being extra-cautious because you had bleeding/cramping. And if you don't like what he said, then look into a different OB. Carrying a healthy baby is more important than working out.

lalique216

jdmiller28:

Follow your doctor's orders. He's probably just being extra-cautious because you had bleeding/cramping. And if you don't like what he said, then look into a different OB. Carrying a healthy baby is more important than working out.

a healthy baby is definitely more important than working out, but exercise is also important during pregnancy. Not only for myself, but for the pregnancy in general. It eases a lot of your pregnancy pains, and definitely helps you through labor. 

Never once did i say that it was more important than the health of my baby. Sorry if this response sounds a bit snarky, but you also made it sound like i  want to work out  just to work out. 

Healthy you, healthy baby. 

Kml9876

I would follow what the doctor told you. My doctor told me not to do crunches or lift anything more than 25 pounds for weights. Which was so awful to me as I love to lift weights at the gym and that made it not worth lifting. I would rather follow what the doctor said than have something happen to the baby though. I went right back to lifting weights though at 6 weeks pp.

pepomntpat

I would not disregard what your doctor said, but considering his attitude I would seek a second opinion from  another doctor.

grr_aargh

pepomntpat:

I would not disregard what your doctor said, but considering his attitude I would seek a second opinion from  another doctor.

This.

If the 2nd doc told me not to work out, I'd listen.

I'm on VOLUNTARY hiatus for first tri from exercising.  There's plenty of pregnancy before me for me to be active and exercising in.  This time right now is for my pregnancy to establish itself well and keep the baby healthy.

That said, I still routinely walk 1-3 miles a day.  Walking's light, but still good.  

rach0528

sweetheart18:

lalique216:

My question to you guys is:

should I just go ahead and do light workouts?

or should i follow doctors orders and call it quits?

grrrr...... TIA!

Hey...  I can relate.  Before I got pregnant with my DD I was an avid runner, swimmer, and pilates person.  It *is* a lifestyle - no doubt.

I got pregnant with twins.  At 7 weeks I started bleeding and that went on until I lost one of my twins (obviously I was on bed rest during the bleeding).  When my twin died I was put on bed rest because of the risk of spontaneous miscarriage that could put the other baby at risk.  Then, right when I thought all was well (22 weeks and my twin had pretty much be resorbed by my body) they discovered that my cervix was shortening.  Immediate "light duty" bedrest.  No walking, no working out at all...  go to work, come home, lay down. At work I sat at my desk with my feet elevated.

It was VERY HARD.  At the end of my pregnancy I was "lucky" in that I only gained 28 pounds...  But I had lost ALL of my endurance, muscle tone, etc.  But you know what?  I had a HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL baby girl.  It was worth everything.  I hired a trainer and got back into the best shape I could once I was cleared to 6w postpardum.  Now I am pregnant again (surprise!) and will likely have cervix issues that require bedrest again.  That is okay!  It is worth it. 

Here's the deal...  There are many many risks that bleeding/spotting put you at that your doctor doesn't tell you.  Cervix issues and pPROM to name two.  It doesn't surprise me that he woudl want you to take it easy.  Maybe once you hit 20 weeks and things are looking good with no bleeding and a long cervix he might ease up.  But he might not.  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

Lastly, if heaven forbid the worst was to happen (miscarriage, PTL, pPROM) you wouldn't want to feel a single ounce of guilt about it being caused by not listening to your doctor.  You are paying him because he has a much wider depth of experience than you.  And for the first time ever I know it is hard to hear that "exercise is bad".  It goes against everything you have ever known, right?  But you are spotting/bleeding and that is NOT NORMAL.  So right now, you don't have a perfectly normal pregnancy. 

Good luck and PLEASE listen to your doctor!  It is worth it!

 

 I agree..If something were to happen would you be able to live with the guilt?  I'm not saying it is going to cause anything, but there is a chance, and you do have an elevated chance..I would say at least wait until you are in the second trimester...Did they ever find a reason for the bleeding? 

lalique216

rach0528:

sweetheart18:

lalique216:

My question to you guys is:

should I just go ahead and do light workouts?

or should i follow doctors orders and call it quits?

grrrr...... TIA!

Hey...  I can relate.  Before I got pregnant with my DD I was an avid runner, swimmer, and pilates person.  It *is* a lifestyle - no doubt.

I got pregnant with twins.  At 7 weeks I started bleeding and that went on until I lost one of my twins (obviously I was on bed rest during the bleeding).  When my twin died I was put on bed rest because of the risk of spontaneous miscarriage that could put the other baby at risk.  Then, right when I thought all was well (22 weeks and my twin had pretty much be resorbed by my body) they discovered that my cervix was shortening.  Immediate "light duty" bedrest.  No walking, no working out at all...  go to work, come home, lay down. At work I sat at my desk with my feet elevated.

It was VERY HARD.  At the end of my pregnancy I was "lucky" in that I only gained 28 pounds...  But I had lost ALL of my endurance, muscle tone, etc.  But you know what?  I had a HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL baby girl.  It was worth everything.  I hired a trainer and got back into the best shape I could once I was cleared to 6w postpardum.  Now I am pregnant again (surprise!) and will likely have cervix issues that require bedrest again.  That is okay!  It is worth it. 

Here's the deal...  There are many many risks that bleeding/spotting put you at that your doctor doesn't tell you.  Cervix issues and pPROM to name two.  It doesn't surprise me that he woudl want you to take it easy.  Maybe once you hit 20 weeks and things are looking good with no bleeding and a long cervix he might ease up.  But he might not.  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

Lastly, if heaven forbid the worst was to happen (miscarriage, PTL, pPROM) you wouldn't want to feel a single ounce of guilt about it being caused by not listening to your doctor.  You are paying him because he has a much wider depth of experience than you.  And for the first time ever I know it is hard to hear that "exercise is bad".  It goes against everything you have ever known, right?  But you are spotting/bleeding and that is NOT NORMAL.  So right now, you don't have a perfectly normal pregnancy. 

Good luck and PLEASE listen to your doctor!  It is worth it!

 

 I agree..If something were to happen would you be able to live with the guilt?  I'm not saying it is going to cause anything, but there is a chance, and you do have an elevated chance..I would say at least wait until you are in the second trimester...Did they ever find a reason for the bleeding? 

the bleeding only lasted a little less than a week, and the cramps about a day. they said it could have probably just been old blood from implantation because i was totally fine and so was baby. that was about 5 weeks ago, had my 10 wk US yesterday and baby was moving around like crazy and totally great! thats basically why i asked him if i could begin to exercise again.