Any runners out there...

mgoodwyn

Hi Ladies! I was an active runner before I got pregnant.. 3 miles 3-4 times per week. I have not run once since I got pregnant, and here's why: my midwife told me that I could continue to run, as long as I kept my heartbeat below 140.

This is where I'm confused... I am almost sure that running any significant distance would put me above 140 beats. Has anyone else heard this advice? Have you kept running anyway? I am a FTM, and was really taking the 140 bpm thing seriously before, but now I'm not so sure.

megaroo64

Hmm... I am a runner, told my doctor I was a runner when I first got pregnant, and she never said anything about my heart rate.  She told me that I needed to listen to my body, and that I wasn't supposed to do any exercises where I intentionally limited my breathing (I swim as well... I think that warning was more meant for swimming).  But we had a really extensive conversation about my work out habits with the do's and don't's going forward, and I was never given a specific heart rate to stay under.  

Anyway, I have still been running this whole time.  Granted, it is not the same as pre-pregnancy, but I have been able to run at least a couple times a week.  I just slow down when I am feeling winded, and I take more walking breaks than I have ever taken before.

 If I were you, I would be careful though- I don't know how far along you are, but if you have stopped running for an extended period of time, I would talk to my dr. again before starting up again. 

tiffletons518

My doctor also didn't give a specific heart rate. She says she goes by the "talk test". I should be able to carry on a conversation while I'm working out. Whatever it is I'm doing. I ran for a bit in the beginning, much slower and lots of breaks. But, my knee bas since halted that so I'm mostly walking and doing other things. I second PP, if you haven't run at all definitely talk to your doc first. With how far along you are, they may just say hold off on running till after baby.

natalie115

I had to get a release signed by my OB so I could work out at a community fitness center and on the release she put down no weight over 25 lbs and heart rate under 140. I'm sure every OB is different in that area as they are in all areas, I would do what you feel comfortable with and listen to your body.

rfrutkin

I'm a runner and haven't stopped. I've heard the opposite about heart rate basically it doesn't matter as long as you listen to your body and don't overdo it.

I'm 21 weeks and have slowed down significantly, and my weekly mileage has also dropped significantly.

I wouldn't push it if you haven't been running. You don't want to injure yourself or your babe! Maybe just stick to power walking at an incline if you're using a treadmill.

ChristyD6

My doc told me about keeping my HR at 140 too but I'm not really tracking it. I was running early pregnancy and then I just wasn't feeling it so switched I easier things for the last 4weeks or so. I ran again twice last week at a much slower pace but it was nice to get back into it! Ease back into running I your doc says it's ok and try to keep at a moderate workload. The talk test should do the trick!

Fuzzy21

I'm a runner - 3-4 miles about 3x a week.  With that said, I haven't ran since I got my BFP.   With my previous pregnancy (that ended in m/c) I continued to run as I normally would and ended up having a m/c at 11w6d. It most likely wasn't related at all, and I don't want people to think that the running caused it, but it scared me enough that I quit running this go around.  I can't wait to start back up again after LO is born

txaggster

I'm not a runner, but I'm an avid mountain biker and lift weights pretty regularly. I talked to my OB about the "below 140" idea and she told me to listen to my body rather than worry about heart rate. Thus far, listening to my body has been fairly easy - when something starts to feel uncomfortable, I back off and scale back. She also told me to decrease the weight I lift by about 15% and focus on "toning" rather than "building" muscle. I've followed this advice for 20 weeks and I'm gaining weight at a healthy pace as well as keeping pain at bay. Plus, it keeps my moods more level - if I don't work out, I'm afraid I might shank someone who makes the wrong comment.  

musicalsilver

My doctor didn't say anything like this.

I was under the impression the BPM recommendations were a bit outdated - but obviously based on others responses they aren't really outdated at all!

I have mild tachycardia - so if I had to keep my heart rate below 140bpm I couldn't do much of anything at all!  So I'm glad I didn't get that advice ;-)

I've been continuing my normal exercising (though I have cut back on the running a lot, as it made me rather crampy during first tri) - and just taking it much easier than I used to.  Whereas I might have run through some discomfort in the past, I walk for a while until I feel like running comfortably again. 

kjcrawfor

I was signed up to run a half marathon at 10 weeks and doc said as long as I had been training (which I had been) that it was totally fine, and I can guarantee that my heart rate was above 140 - especially at mile 10 - ugh!  

I also do body pump twice a week (most weeks) and doc said just to do what feels comfortable - I haven't dropped weight yet, but have stopped using weights for lunges (balance is way off).

That said, I'm pretty sure my heart rate was over 140 last night when I was watching The Following...seriously...