running vs the ob/gyn

sbaz

sooo, i'm a newbie prego. Chose my current OB bc I work with her in the OR and she's good at what she does (I don't generally work with OB patients, but I see her doing hysterectomies, D&Cs, etc) which made me feel comfortable with her skills.

However, at my first appointment (was just over 4 weeks so was more of a meet & greet, no lab work or u/s) she slapped on the 140 HR restriction and made it clear she wasn't a fan of the running.

I got home, ran a search for journal articles and studies in the OB literature and found what I suspected and what I'd always heard: the 140 HR restriction is bogus and continuing to run while pregnant is fine as long as you listen to your body and are able to converse, sing short phrases, etc. So I kept at it and have been feeling great.  

With just over a week to go til my next appointment, my husband has been getting more and more nervous about my heart rate (that gets into the 160s) when I run so I agreed to cut it out and just walk until the next appointment when I could get the official 'ok' from the doctor.

But now, I'm kinda starting to wonder if instead of asking her for further explanation about the HR restriction and explaining what I've found, if I should just find a new OB. Feel like that's a bit dramatic (she came recommended by the nurses on the OB floor and she's a good surgeon so she's good at what she does, right?) but being so old school about the running makes me question what else she's not up-to-date on.

 

NikkiK78

You will find that there are lots of women on here that ran all during their pregnancies. I did a 1/2 at 4 weeks, they told me the same thing about the 140 but really just ignored it and made sure I stayed hydrated and fueled, and like you said listen to my body. This would not be a good time to start running, but since you have been doing it should be ok. So personally I would just ignore that bit from your doctor, doesn?t mean you should be concerned about her other judgments.

PeanutButterGirl

Yeah I agree. If you were already running.. then keep it up just dont start to do more then what you're used to. I have a friend that took a spin class the day she went into labor. Everything I have read said the same things you've found bc I run a few miles a few times a week. I'm thinking you'll feel better anyway if you stay this active throughout the pregnancy!

MrsClark8109

I would ask WHY the restriction-- are you at a low enough bodyfat/weight that there are some hormonal concerns?

I wasn't allowed to exercise until after first trimester or while we were trying to get pregnant for that reason-- we had to do injections for progesterone/estrogen ect and knew from when I was on fertility treatments that the harder workouts would upset my hormone levels even though they were supplemented.

If its just a blanket suggestion she gives all patients, then I would question it but if she can give you a case-specific reason I'd consider listening to her...and I know it sucks. I cant wait until I'm able to go balls to the wall at the gym again...

nativemama12

My Dr, never restricted my HR, he just said to listen to my body and keep hydrated.  I ran till 35 weeks, eventually my hips were in excruciating pain and took a couple of days to recover.  I did wear a HR monitor to get an idea of how 'hard' i could run.  LO was born in June, I stayed active till the Big day, she arrived healthy and no complications!

sunandsurfmama

You have to listen to your body, I ran my entire pregnancy and am aready back training for my next race.

The 140 HR is an old standard. I am a fitness professional and that is not even taught anymore.

It is more important to ogoby RPE and how you feel.  You also have to stay hydrated.

IF you are high risk, it is a different story entirely.

But I taught fitness and ran up until the day before I delivered. 

 

OpheliaChem

I think if you take it easy (run fewer miles at a slower pace) you will be ok. I ran until I delivered and my pulse definitely went over 140. But if I felt winded, I just walked.

genekelly

Can you show your husband all the other information you've found about exercising and running while pregnant and that ACOG removed the 140 bpm restriction a while ago.  What is the OB's problem with running? You might ask her about that at your next appt and have a more in depth discussion about exercise if you haven't already.  At my first OB appt, my OB told me no lifting weights>35 lbs which I felt was ridiculous so early so he adjusted that to after 24 wks which I then felt ok complying with.  I ran until ~31 wks at which pt I became uncomfortable.  I exercised until 40 wk 1 day and delivered at 40w6d.  I had a terrific and uncomplicated pregnancy(but delivery is another topic!).  Good luck!

MesmrEwe

Most OB's tend to be rather alarmist during that first visit or two...  I'm a competitive lifter and mine said I'd be done lifting at 12 weeks into the PG...  Well, at 16/18 weeks I competed and totalled in the 930's (higher than any other female in the entire meet - including the geared girls)..  At 20 weeks, I could still do 3-sets of 335 on squat/Deadlift, and bench 205 easily. 

Unfortunately because of a GI issue that came on suddenly in the past week & a half, I'm now on restrictions for lifting which given how I've been feeling I wouldn't be in a gym right now anyway, but I can understand the need for it.  The most important thing is, whether you're lifting, or running, your body WILL tell you to either make hay when the sun shines or to cut back.  It just will.  I never thought my body would be telling me "it's a good night to stay at home on the recliner with the blanket" like it has the past week and a half, but part of training in my sport is to first and foremost, listen to your body, the second you don't it's a recipe for injuries, and injuries take longer to heal up than it does for you to get weight back on the bar from taking time off.

You're the expert of your body, LISTEN to it!

becca1219

My OB didn't like me running, but I ran till I was just over 6 months and then it just became painful and I had complications that ended up leaving me to deliver 2 months early. I just listened to my body and stayed well hydrated. If you were doing it before you got pregnant you should be ok.