20 weeks...pelvic rest and no exercise??

starburst210 · December 2011

so at my OB checkup today, all was normal.... i was then informed that after 20 weeks they put you on pelvic rest (i think can handle that) and asks that you don't exercise....meaning you can "walk your dog" but don't go to the gym.....

my MFM doc was a little more opened to the exercise idea....and told me to just listen to my body ....and be smart about it. i am seeing him on tues so i will bring this up...

i am having a hard time with this zero exercise concept...i obviously will do whatever is best for me and my babies but i am such a gym person and the idea of not even being able to walk on a treadmill sounds very hard for me. i worked out until the very end when i was pregnant with my daughter and while i know this is a totally different pregnancy i am concerned that this may take a little bit of a toll on me mentally if i can't do at least some light exercise!

what did your docs say about this when you hit 20 weeks....and how did it effect you if you are or were a gym person like me! thanks girls!!!

kafunder · December 2011

I know it's superhard, but I'd follow your dr's orders. Prior to getting pregnant, I ran a lot and loved going to the gym. Just a month or so before I got pregnant, I ran a marathon. So, when I was on pelvic rest from 4w-12w due to an ovarian cyst, it was tough. Then, I got off and started running slowly and walking on the treadmill. The dr. said I could b/c I was practically begging but he was a little hesitant.

By 20w, I was on full bedrest b/c my cervix had shortened. I'm not saying that running caused that, but I do wish I had listened to my dr. and taken it a bit easier when I could, so that maybe I wouldn't have had to been on full bedrest for the next few months.

UsedToBeGoldie · December 2011

my OB told me from day 1 that being pg with twins is not time to exercise more than going walking.... my body would be using a lot more energy creating not one but TWO lives and i should do all i can to ensure they are born as close to term as possible - and taking it very easy was one of the best ways to do that.... i took his advice to heart (Dr. Luke's advice, too)... and sat, put my feet up, etc- every chance I had the whole 8 months... and i made it to 38w1d with no signs of labor.

you have the rest of your life to go to the gym- you only have a few months to create these children.

tootlebug · December 2011

i dont understand this 20 week rule. are you showing signs of pre-term labor? is your cervix doing weird things? is there something else going on? putting you on pelvic rest simply bc you are now at that 20 week mark doesnt make sense to me.

my MFM/OB would only put me on pelvic/bed rest of im showing signs of PTL or if my cervix is showing signs of weakening. ..or if something was wrong with one of the babies. im 24 weeks and am still allowed to do whatever - exercise - grocery shopping, etc, and i have a very active toddler that they are aware of.

i mean, it's not like i get on the treadmill and run, but i do the stationary bike for 30 minutes 3X a week, and do pregnancy yoga in the mornings, 5 times a week. (the yoga has been GREAT). i also grocery shop, cook, do things around the house. but i know my limits, and i try not to do too much in one day. and if i need to lay down, i do it.

i know what you mean about not wanting to give up your fitness routine. i worked out until 38 weeks with my son then was voluntarily induced at 39 weeks. the exercise really helped me physically and mentally and it's done wonders for this pregnancy as well. maybe have a more educated discussion with your doctor regarding why they are doing this,if you already havent. i cant imagine they would do this without some specific reasons pertaining to you right?

ninjabridemom · December 2011

They've told me from the beginning to take it easy w exercise in this pregnancy b/c of mono-di -- so basically walking and light yoga. I've been sticking to that and it's been working for me! Other than that, there have been no specific restrictions.

I would definitely listen to your MFM over your OB, though -- they are usually the ones w the most experience w your type of pregnancy. If she says you can walk, walk!! Listen to your body, too.

AmyJoy728 · December 2011

tootlebug:
i dont understand this 20 week rule. are you showing signs of pre-term labor? is your cervix doing weird things? is there something else going on? putting you on pelvic rest simply bc you are now at that 20 week mark doesnt make sense to me.

my MFM/OB would only put me on pelvic/bed rest of im showing signs of PTL or if my cervix is showing signs of weakening. ..or if something was wrong with one of the babies. im 24 weeks and am still allowed to do whatever - exercise - grocery shopping, etc, and i have a very active toddler that they are aware of.

i mean, it's not like i get on the treadmill and run, but i do the stationary bike for 30 minutes 3X a week, and do pregnancy yoga in the mornings, 5 times a week. (the yoga has been GREAT). i also grocery shop, cook, do things around the house. but i know my limits, and i try not to do too much in one day. and if i need to lay down, i do it.

i know what you mean about not wanting to give up your fitness routine. i worked out until 38 weeks with my son then was voluntarily induced at 39 weeks. the exercise really helped me physically and mentally and it's done wonders for this pregnancy as well. maybe have a more educated discussion with your doctor regarding why they are doing this,if you already havent. i cant imagine they would do this without some specific reasons pertaining to you right?

My docs told me to take it easy from the beginning of the preg. My docs also warned me that if my cervix changed or shortened that I could be on bedrest. I used to walk for 3 miles a few times a week, and now I only do 1/2 mile to a mile depending on if i'm running errands or doing laundry, etc.

tootlebug · December 2011

AmyJoy728:
tootlebug:

i dont understand this 20 week rule. are you showing signs of pre-term labor? is your cervix doing weird things? is there something else going on? putting you on pelvic rest simply bc you are now at that 20 week mark doesnt make sense to me.

my MFM/OB would only put me on pelvic/bed rest of im showing signs of PTL or if my cervix is showing signs of weakening. ..or if something was wrong with one of the babies. im 24 weeks and am still allowed to do whatever - exercise - grocery shopping, etc, and i have a very active toddler that they are aware of.

i mean, it's not like i get on the treadmill and run, but i do the stationary bike for 30 minutes 3X a week, and do pregnancy yoga in the mornings, 5 times a week. (the yoga has been GREAT). i also grocery shop, cook, do things around the house. but i know my limits, and i try not to do too much in one day. and if i need to lay down, i do it.

i know what you mean about not wanting to give up your fitness routine. i worked out until 38 weeks with my son then was voluntarily induced at 39 weeks. the exercise really helped me physically and mentally and it's done wonders for this pregnancy as well. maybe have a more educated discussion with your doctor regarding why they are doing this,if you already havent. i cant imagine they would do this without some specific reasons pertaining to you right?

My docs told me to take it easy from the beginning of the preg. My docs also warned me that if my cervix changed or shortened that I could be on bedrest. I used to walk for 3 miles a few times a week, and now I only do 1/2 mile to a mile depending on if i'm running errands or doing laundry, etc.

that's nice. every MFM and OB is different. and i feel really fortunate that mine are only putting me on bedrest if my cervix changes drastically or if something happens with the babies, etc.

Jen0204 · December 2011

I think a lot of times there are general guidelines, but you should be able to talk to your OB about your specific situation since you're going into the pregnancy as someone who exercised often. While running could be out, maybe walking on the treadmill, using the stationary bike, or doing prenatal yoga would be a good compromise. But I would definitely follow what they say to do, and if they're okay with it, be very, very conscious of your body's cues. I know personally when exercising I liked to see how much I could push myself - could I lift a little more today, run a mile a little faster, etc. - so if my body was tired I'd push through. When you're pregnant with twins that's a bad idea. I tried to keep up my normal routine through about 15 weeks, then switched to a just light cardio routine, and by about 20 weeks even prenatal yoga was extremely uncomfortable for me. My time at the gym was great "me" time and exercising made me feel really good so I hated giving it up, but it just wasn't working for me.

What Tootle doesn't seem to get is that a lot of doctors prefer to be proactive. At 26 weeks I was put on bed rest due to a shortened cervix. If I had taken it easier or stopped exercising earlier, maybe I could have avoided it, who knows? But while it may seem like they're going overboard and being kind of ridiculous, everything they tell us to do in the beginning is to try to keep the babies in as long as possible and to help us avoid full blown bed rest. Why wait until you're showing signs of PTL or a shortened cervix to ask you to adjust your activities when giving you suggestions now could possibly prevent those issues from occurring at all?

tootlebug · December 2011

Jen0204:
I think a lot of times there are general guidelines, but you should be able to talk to your OB about your specific situation since you're going into the pregnancy as someone who exercised often. While running could be out, maybe walking on the treadmill, using the stationary bike, or doing prenatal yoga would be a good compromise. But I would definitely follow what they say to do, and if they're okay with it, be very, very conscious of your body's cues. I know personally when exercising I liked to see how much I could push myself - could I lift a little more today, run a mile a little faster, etc. - so if my body was tired I'd push through. When you're pregnant with twins that's a bad idea. I tried to keep up my normal routine through about 15 weeks, then switched to a just light cardio routine, and by about 20 weeks even prenatal yoga was extremely uncomfortable for me. My time at the gym was great "me" time and exercising made me feel really good so I hated giving it up, but it just wasn't working for me.

What Tootle doesn't seem to get is that a lot of doctors prefer to be proactive. At 26 weeks I was put on bed rest due to a shortened cervix. If I had taken it easier or stopped exercising earlier, maybe I could have avoided it, who knows? But while it may seem like they're going overboard and being kind of ridiculous, everything they tell us to do in the beginning is to try to keep the babies in as long as possible and to help us avoid full blown bed rest. Why wait until you're showing signs of PTL or a shortened cervix to ask you to adjust your activities when giving you suggestions now could possibly prevent those issues from occurring at all?

um, excuse me? I "get" it. im not an idiot. and im certainly not someone to ignore doctors orders, especially when ive dealt with enough infertilty to last a lifetime. i had just never heard of putting patients on pelvic rest "just because" at 20 weeks, when she was allowed to go to the gym, etc beforehand. that was all i was questioning.

and my MFM is one of the best in the chicagoland area. im not concerned about his advice at all. my cervix was at 5cm at my 21 week appointment with him. is he going to wait until it is 2cm to put me on bedrest? of course not. i go to the OB and MFM every two weeks so rest assured, they are watching me closely and know what they are doing. ive already had a successful pregnancy and some of his advice is predicated on that, which ive mentioned a couple times on this board.

every single pregnancy is different and every person is different in how they handle it, especially in a multiple pregnancy. one rule does not apply to everyone, which you, dont seem to get.

Jen0204 · December 2011

tootlebug:
Jen0204:
I think a lot of times there are general guidelines, but you should be able to talk to your OB about your specific situation since you're going into the pregnancy as someone who exercised often. While running could be out, maybe walking on the treadmill, using the stationary bike, or doing prenatal yoga would be a good compromise. But I would definitely follow what they say to do, and if they're okay with it, be very, very conscious of your body's cues. I know personally when exercising I liked to see how much I could push myself - could I lift a little more today, run a mile a little faster, etc. - so if my body was tired I'd push through. When you're pregnant with twins that's a bad idea. I tried to keep up my normal routine through about 15 weeks, then switched to a just light cardio routine, and by about 20 weeks even prenatal yoga was extremely uncomfortable for me. My time at the gym was great "me" time and exercising made me feel really good so I hated giving it up, but it just wasn't working for me.

What Tootle doesn't seem to get is that a lot of doctors prefer to be proactive. At 26 weeks I was put on bed rest due to a shortened cervix. If I had taken it easier or stopped exercising earlier, maybe I could have avoided it, who knows? But while it may seem like they're going overboard and being kind of ridiculous, everything they tell us to do in the beginning is to try to keep the babies in as long as possible and to help us avoid full blown bed rest. Why wait until you're showing signs of PTL or a shortened cervix to ask you to adjust your activities when giving you suggestions now could possibly prevent those issues from occurring at all?

um, excuse me? I "get" it. im not an idiot. and im certainly not someone to ignore doctors orders, especially when ive dealt with enough infertilty to last a lifetime. i had just never heard of putting patients on pelvic rest "just because" at 20 weeks, when she was allowed to go to the gym, etc beforehand. that was all i was questioning.

and my MFM is one of the best in the chicagoland area. im not concerned about his advice at all. my cervix was at 5cm at my 21 week appointment with him. is he going to wait until it is 2cm to put me on bedrest? of course not. i go to the OB and MFM every two weeks so rest assured, they are watching me closely and know what they are doing. ive already had a successful pregnancy and some of his advice is predicated on that, which ive mentioned a couple times on this board.

every single pregnancy is different and every person is different in how they handle it, especially in a multiple pregnancy. one rule does not apply to everyone, which you, dont seem to get.

I just get a very condescending vibe from all of your posts, such as when you said "that's nice". If that's not how you mean it, fine, that's just how you've come across to me in a few different threads. And I think the first half of my post, which said that there are generally guidelines they go by but that her OB should discuss her specific situation with her, shows that I understand completely that one rule doesn't apply to everyone.

tootlebug · December 2011

Jen0204:
tootlebug:
Jen0204:
I think a lot of times there are general guidelines, but you should be able to talk to your OB about your specific situation since you're going into the pregnancy as someone who exercised often. While running could be out, maybe walking on the treadmill, using the stationary bike, or doing prenatal yoga would be a good compromise. But I would definitely follow what they say to do, and if they're okay with it, be very, very conscious of your body's cues. I know personally when exercising I liked to see how much I could push myself - could I lift a little more today, run a mile a little faster, etc. - so if my body was tired I'd push through. When you're pregnant with twins that's a bad idea. I tried to keep up my normal routine through about 15 weeks, then switched to a just light cardio routine, and by about 20 weeks even prenatal yoga was extremely uncomfortable for me. My time at the gym was great "me" time and exercising made me feel really good so I hated giving it up, but it just wasn't working for me.

What Tootle doesn't seem to get is that a lot of doctors prefer to be proactive. At 26 weeks I was put on bed rest due to a shortened cervix. If I had taken it easier or stopped exercising earlier, maybe I could have avoided it, who knows? But while it may seem like they're going overboard and being kind of ridiculous, everything they tell us to do in the beginning is to try to keep the babies in as long as possible and to help us avoid full blown bed rest. Why wait until you're showing signs of PTL or a shortened cervix to ask you to adjust your activities when giving you suggestions now could possibly prevent those issues from occurring at all?

um, excuse me? I "get" it. im not an idiot. and im certainly not someone to ignore doctors orders, especially when ive dealt with enough infertilty to last a lifetime. i had just never heard of putting patients on pelvic rest "just because" at 20 weeks, when she was allowed to go to the gym, etc beforehand. that was all i was questioning.

and my MFM is one of the best in the chicagoland area. im not concerned about his advice at all. my cervix was at 5cm at my 21 week appointment with him. is he going to wait until it is 2cm to put me on bedrest? of course not. i go to the OB and MFM every two weeks so rest assured, they are watching me closely and know what they are doing. ive already had a successful pregnancy and some of his advice is predicated on that, which ive mentioned a couple times on this board.

every single pregnancy is different and every person is different in how they handle it, especially in a multiple pregnancy. one rule does not apply to everyone, which you, dont seem to get.

I just get a very condescending vibe from all of your posts, such as when you said "that's nice". If that's not how you mean it, fine, that's just how you've come across to me in a few different threads. And I think the first half of my post, which said that there are generally guidelines they go by but that her OB should discuss her specific situation with her, shows that I understand completely that one rule doesn't apply to everyone.

actually i sort of got a condescending vibe from your post.....highlighting the instructions from your doctor, which seemed intially seemed different from mine. (although i was told the same thing about the cervix shortening). i dont think that my doctor is 100% right for everyone because everyone is different. but, he is right for me. i can relate to the OP because i am also someone who likes to exercise and i can imagine that it would be hard being told to refrain...especially if there is no specific reason, that's why i probed.

i dont fault others for listening to their doctors - i might ask some questions to get a better understanding of the situation, which i think is fair. but i dont think that my doctor is 100% right, nor do i think others are 100% right. i think it depends on the person and the pregnancy.

tootlebug · December 2011

...i need to sign off - please PM me if you want to discuss this further, id rather not get into a huge "board" fight (when it seems like every single post gets a star nowadays) when i really just think we misunderstood each other.

starburst210 · December 2011

sorry ladies i didn't mean to start posts like this....every doc has something diff to say ....my OB and MFM both say diff things so i will just have to decide how i want to go about this in a smart way and listen to my body. i would NEVER Do anything to harm my babies and i would be willing to give up the gym for this time if that's what it meant (obviously) but i will discuss with them and see what's really allowed and what's not.

Jen0204 · December 2011

starburst210:
sorry ladies i didn't mean to start posts like this....every doc has something diff to say ....my OB and MFM both say diff things so i will just have to decide how i want to go about this in a smart way and listen to my body. i would NEVER Do anything to harm my babies and i would be willing to give up the gym for this time if that's what it meant (obviously) but i will discuss with them and see what's really allowed and what's not.

No worries, sometimes there are misunderstandings and I'm sorry if I made things tense in your post! This board is so great for asking questions and getting a broad range of answers. I like it because it gives me a good idea of what reasonable expectations are so that I feel more informed when I ask my doctor questions. Just keep asking questions here and of your doctor, and trust your gut and your body to tell you what's right. Sorry again if I ruined your post!

starburst210 · December 2011

Jen0204:
starburst210:
sorry ladies i didn't mean to start posts like this....every doc has something diff to say ....my OB and MFM both say diff things so i will just have to decide how i want to go about this in a smart way and listen to my body. i would NEVER Do anything to harm my babies and i would be willing to give up the gym for this time if that's what it meant (obviously) but i will discuss with them and see what's really allowed and what's not.
No worries, sometimes there are misunderstandings and I'm sorry if I made things tense in your post! This board is so great for asking questions and getting a broad range of answers. I like it because it gives me a good idea of what reasonable expectations are so that I feel more informed when I ask my doctor questions. Just keep asking questions here and of your doctor, and trust your gut and your body to tell you what's right. Sorry again if I ruined your post!

nah you didn't ruin it!! i know there is some "drama" that can occur here....and i think it's b/c there are so many different opinions on things.... and people feel passionately about the way they do things or about the advice their docs give.

this particular topic is obviously a little bit conflicted or the back and forth wouldn't have began in the first place:)

and yes my gut and body is first and foremost....i have learned and more recently that docs don't know everything...and that what one says may differ from another....makes it confusing but if we use our own non-doc brains, we also know what's right and wrong for our well being!!

happy new year!

13pickle · December 2011

all my doctors want me to keep doing something, at 20 weeks i cut back my work hours, & evening teaching, so nice to have 6 hour days instead of 12. but because of that chance i now walk in the pool (feels amazing till i get out and remember i'm so heavy) and i'm going to be doing a prenatal yoga class, i have full support.

if you want to stay active, research some of these options, our hospital also offers a few things, then take these ideas to your doctors, they can help you find something that works for you.

good luck!

kthappy76 · December 2011

I was told upfront by my OB that likely at 24w I would be restricted (travel, sex, exercise, etc.), but I didn't even make it that far. I lost my mp @ 19 and was put on BR @ 20. You know this, but twins are a totally different ball game. I spent 4 months on total bedrest to bring mine to term. I would recommend not pushing it as the result could very well be complications and much more severe restrictions than you are facing now. Enjoy it while you can walk at all, after awhile I was so uncomfortable that even if I wasn't on BR, I wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway. GL!

gumiberg · December 2011

i had the most easy, uneventful pregnancy. no morning sickness, no fatigue, no pain, no PTL...some heartburn was really the bulk of it. so, i exercised with a HM for my pregnancy. my drs were totally cool with it. i felt great - i loved being pregnant. LOVED LOVED LOVED. and i loved running pregnant.

so its a to-each-their-own thing between the patient and their dr. i think how in shape you are going into pregnancy plays a big role too. to some, a 3 mile run is a workout...to me, a 3 mile run is nothing. its like a walk.

at 30 weeks, i stayed in the pool. swimming is great exercise because you are weightless. for a short cervix, being in a pool is even better than laying in a bed. plus, it keeps your HR low. i think exercise is important for an easy labor, and easy recovery - swimming is such a great option!

Haven1 · December 2011

Yeah, gumi and I are the pro-working out flag wavers. My OB told me to stay hydrated, watch my temp, and watch my footing from falling. Otherwise I could run as much as I wanted so long as everything stayed looking good with my blood pressure and cervix. I ran daily until a week before I delivered and loved it. I'm confident running before, during, and after made my pregnancy and recovery easy peasy.

starburst210 · January 2012

Haven1:
Yeah, gumi and I are the pro-working out flag wavers. My OB told me to stay hydrated, watch my temp, and watch my footing from falling. Otherwise I could run as much as I wanted so long as everything stayed looking good with my blood pressure and cervix. I ran daily until a week before I delivered and loved it. I'm confident running before, during, and after made my pregnancy and recovery easy peasy.

i appreciate this mentality....i took spin classes with my singleton until i was about 39 weeks....so twins or not, it's hard for me to forego any exercise whatsoever!!

thanks ladies:)

Breezy8407 · January 2012

A lot of people are surprised my Dr. hasn't told me to stop running yet. (I see her again next week, so we'll see what she says). It's definitely not as easy as it used to be and I have to walk more. Fortunately we have had an unusually snowless winter so far, so I have been able to run outside.

I don't have access to a pool, but wish I did. I know I will have to stop running soon, and it will be hard mentally for me to not exercise at all when it's something I have done at least 4 days a week since I was 13.

I think walking will be great - at least you can still do something. You will still get that feeling of accomplishment and keeping the habit.

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