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Exercises becoming more limited...

mom2sophiamom2sophia
in Health & Exercise

I am now 19 weeks and have noticed a significant difference in my ability to perform certain moves.  I went for a brisk (4.5-4.8mph) walk yesterday and tried running a few times, but just couldn't do it--I started having a heavy feeling in my vagina and stretching pains in the lower ab/ligament area.  Has anyone else experienced this?

 I have continued doing my workout dvd's--jackie warner, BL boot camp, Jillain M....but some of the moves I have had to modify.  Plyometrics or jumping quickly have become uncomfortable.  Anyone else?

 I must say, I am obsessed with staying thin with this baby...I hate gaining weight!! As of a week ago, I have gained 9 lbs and I feel like a hog. It's a little depressing not to be able to do the moves/running that I want to do.  And I sometimes think, I have 20 more weeks to go--how am I going to stay fit when I can't do some of these moves now?  My stamina for exercising 5 days has come down to 3 or 4, if I don't rest a day inbtw I become extremely exhausted and generally sore all over. 

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Re: Exercises becoming more limited...

  • DorisLevineDorisLevine
    I know how you feel - but I will say that I've had good days and bad days and you just have to keep pushing through.  I still run around 25 miles a week and am off to do a 5K later this morning.  If I would have quit the first time I was tired/felt pelvic pressure/or was uncomfortable, I wouldn't have made it very far!  So yes,  that heavy feeling is VERY common -- not anything to worry about, but just something you have to muddle through.  What I've found helpful is to make an exercise schedule for the week and just try to stick to it.  I've exercised 6 days a week through my whole pregnancy and have a super easy pregnancy -- some days it's tough to get a workout in but I always feel better after I do it.  Good luck!!
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  • mom2sophiamom2sophia

    I guess that is the question I should be asking...should i push myself thru it??? I asked my OB and the peri doc and they both said not too...that the heavy feeling and cramping is a warning sign that something is not normal.  I do have an exercise routine that I stick with, I break out different dvd's every week and write down my schedule.  Usually, I end up resting one more day than I would like.

     Congrats on your 5K and 25 miles a week...you go girl!!! That is inspiring!  Have you noticed any pain in the knees while running???

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  • DorisLevineDorisLevine
    Hmmm . . . I'm probably a little more aggressive than some pregnant ladies when it come to exercise, but that's probably because it was easy for me to get pregnant and I've had absolutely no complications.  What I've been feeling is sort of like I have a bruise on my pelvis and I thought that was fairly normal to feel.  I've also felt RLP as I'm exercising.  I always stretch really well and that seems to help.  I  guess I have not felt cramping -- if you are having those risks,  them maybe my advice should be tossed out the window!  I think what I was trying to say is that unless something felt really really wrong (which it hasn't for me), I try to stick to it because I always feel better after I exercise than before.  But if you have other problems that I might not be having, then I would maybe run those by your doctor.  But I can totally relate to how you feel -- I know weight gain is inevitable, but I'm trying so hard to also stay in shape while I'm pregnant. 
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  • mom2sophiamom2sophia

    I appreciate the clarification.  I really haven't had "complications," however, I can tell you the heavy feeling in my vagina scared me enough to stop running.  RLP I can deal with, but that feeling that she is going to come right out freaks me out!!!

     If you don't mind me asking, how much have you gained thus far?  I am 106, and started at 97 lbs.  I am only 5'2" tho....

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  • bobbymebobbyme member

    The most important thing to do is to listen to your body. When in doubt, while pregnant, don't push it. I don't like the aspect of gaining weight while pregnant, either, but at the end of the day it would be really selfish of me to continue to push myself and then harm the baby in some way. You should not exercise to the point where your muscles are oxygen deprived, because that means that the baby is even more so, which is a serious issue.

     A word of encouragement, though: during my second trimester I had hardly any stamina and I went from working out 5-6 days a week to 1 or 2...and on those 1 or 2 days, I would just walk or do 20 minutes of low impact cardio...hardly anything! But, it did keep my body in the groove, and since I began my third trimester, I have had a lot more energy and work out about 5 days a week again (unless I am sick or overtired), and I am able to do resistance training, cardio, stretching, etc.

    Jumping did become uncomfortable during the second trimester, and you probably shouldn't be jumping anyways, since I have heard that it can loosen supporting ligaments, especially if you feel discomfort. Listen to your body--you have a little bean depending on you!

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  • shollisholli

    I find that one of the hardest things about being pregnant is letting go of my usual inclination to control my body to the extent that I'm used to.  If you're only up 9 lbs. and are still exercising, don't fixate on the weight gain, since you have to gain a good bit (especially since you started out small) for the health of the baby.

     That said, I'm almost 29 weeks and have kept up my usual running routine, and just accepted the fact that it is getting slower and slower.  I also now have to take a day off between runs b/c my ankles/calves/feet aren't tolerating the mileage (which was still under 20 miles/week) with the added weight and its redistribution.  So even though it's frustrating, I'm now down to 3 days/week, but that's better than doing harm.  In your case, I'd find the forms of exercise that give you a good cardio workout w/o causing discomfort and rely on those more.  Also the ones that you will continue to be able to do as you get bigger (which will happen and will be a good thing).  Running and walking on an incline are great for this.  Also remember that as you get bigger, you're actually working harder to cover the same distance.  

    Good luck!

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  • DorisLevineDorisLevine
    imagemom2sophia:

    I appreciate the clarification.  I really haven't had "complications," however, I can tell you the heavy feeling in my vagina scared me enough to stop running.  RLP I can deal with, but that feeling that she is going to come right out freaks me out!!!

     If you don't mind me asking, how much have you gained thus far?  I am 106, and started at 97 lbs.  I am only 5'2" tho....

    No problem -- I'm pretty average -- 5'3", started at 120 pounds and weighed 131 at my 26-week appointment a few weeks ago.  My doctor said that was fine.  

    Nothing has happened to me enough to freak me out enough to stop exercising, but if something did happen I would probably step back.  Oh, and to answer your previous question about knees -- mine have been great!  I've kind of taken a "zen"/"everything will be fine" approach to my pregnancy and haven't really made huge modifications at all.  

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  • Dawley82Dawley82
    The weight gain is scary when you are used to being fit and active.  Having suffered from an ED in the past, it was very hard for me to let go of that control.  I was used to exercising 6 days a week.  You have to listen to your body and let go though.  I am now exercising 4 days a week and it's very light exercise.  For a while there, I was only exercising about 2 days a week.  You just have to listen to your body.  When I was feeling bad and exercising 2 days a week, I thought my weight gain would shoot up, but during that time, I only gained one pound.  I have gained 26 total so far, which means most of the weight gain was during my most active times.  My point of all this is that your body will hold on to what it needs to regardless of how much you work out.  The important thing is to take care of yourself.  Yes that means eating well and exercising, but it also means listening to your body and resting when you need to.  
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  • wheelenlwheelenl

    Sounds like round ligament pain. It usually lasts a few weeks and then goes away. I would do recumbent bike and maybe elliptical until you feel better.

    Also, quit obsessing about staying thin. It's not healthy. You are pregnant. I gained 35 and 40 pounds respectively (I'm naturally a bit underweight) with my pregnancies and it wasn't hard to get the weight off.

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