Pregnant and get tired easily now - exercise?

abbyful

"Start exercising" was on my to-do list before getting pregnant, but I never got around to it. I'm skinny, but not in very good shape (lack endurance and strength). 

I've been walking every day during lunch break for about 20 minutes, but I always get tired the exact same spot. I thought this would go away after a week or two, but my endurance doesn't want t build up. (This same walk I used to do occasional pre-pregnancy and it was super-easy. In fact, I used to be able to walk for hours pre-pregnancy, it was just the running/cardio I didn't have much endurance on.) 

Any advice for being able to build up my endurance during pregnancy? 

lindsayandjamie

Honestly, building endurance during pregnancy is difficult. It is normal that things that used to be easy will become more work (ex walking, stairs etc) as your heart works harder to pump more blood. Maintaining is likely your best bet so keep walking everyday and see if you can extend the duration.  

cwm11985

lindsayandjamie:

Honestly, building endurance during pregnancy is difficult. It is normal that things that used to be easy will become more work (ex walking, stairs etc) as your heart works harder to pump more blood. Maintaining is likely your best bet so keep walking everyday and see if you can extend the duration.  

 

This exactly.  You can't really build endurance during pregnancy because you're only going to get heavier and along with that comes tiredness, sore feet, etc.  Just like you don't build up strength during pregnancy...  But, you should just keep doing what you can do--that is certaintly better than doing nothing! 

meep13

Could you try doing 2 or three shorter walks that add up to slightly more than you are doing now?

clo1982

I totally agree with the other poster that it is going to be difficult to build endurance given that you are going to get heavier as time goes on. Just keep doing whatever you are doing and whatever you feel comfortable with. I was in fantastic shape pre-pregnance and vowed to keep up my taxing routine during my prenancy. It ended up not happening at all but I did walk just about every single day. I truly believe that it helped me in my recovery and weight loss afterward. Do whatever your body can comfortably handle...every little bit helps! Don't beat yourself up either if you can't do as much as you used to. Your body is working overtime growing your LO!

Netty_3

Energy and endurance probably won't happen during pregnancy.  You should ask your OB, but most will say only do what you have been doing prior to pregnancy and not to start a new regimine.  I worked out a lot before, and my endurance and strength went down while pregnant...just part of the package.  Keep walking though, baby will appreciate it.  Maybe take two walks at different times to get more in.  You may ask your OB about doing yoga though.

kg_08

I probably wouldn't worry too much about building up endurance during pregnancy... especially since you could walk for hours before.

While pregnant with DD I could walk maybe 2 miles and then stop. After DD I could walk like all day long.. we'd walk to the pool, then walk to the school to play, then walk home.. maybe another walk later... The energy and endurance definitely came back!

Now I'm pregnant again and already know I won't be able to do as much as I could before. It's totally natural.