Can you run pregnant?

lucianneD · May 2013

I was told no running or jogging. I walk a lot and lift weights, but is there more I can do (besides yoga)?

memali26 · May 2013

If your doctor clears you to run, yes. If your doctor says no running or jogging, I would imagine there is a reason for it and would follow their advice. My dr's general "rule" is if you were doing it before pregnancy, you can continue during, barring any complications.

Cheryls24 · May 2013

If you have a normal healthy pregnancy YES. Of course ask your doctor just to be safe. I was cleared to do a half marathon at 24 weeks, can happily say I finished it last weekend. Of course, the key factor was that my body was already used to me running these type of miles. My doctor just told me to watch the intensity, make sure I'm running at a pace where I can still talk while I am running.

KateVA · May 2013

Did your doctor tell you no or someone else? Of course listen to your doctor but if you have a healthy pregnancy and you were running before, there should be no issue. I'm still running the same short-ish distances I was running before (2.5-3.5 miles) but slower. I used to run at an 8:30/8:45 pace, now I run close to 10 minute miles.

lucianneD · May 2013

My doctor said no but I ran before (short distances) and my pregnancy is normal. I have noticed a lot of women say it is ok to run, and often different doctors say different things. It can be confusing, maybe I will try a light jog or something.

runningyogimama · May 2013

If my doctor wasn't ok with me continuing my normal exercise routine, running or otherwise, and I had a normal pregnancy with no complications and wasn't high risk, I would look for a new doctor.

lucianneD · May 2013

yes in theory, but this one is pretty decent. It was my 4th attempt at a doctor because some of the other ones were horrible! (one I filed a complaint against for falsifying information). I think maybe she was just being cautious.....but I feel pretty confident I can step up my workout a little

Msdpgp · May 2013

If you are healthy and have a normal pregnancy and your doctor is not supportive of exercise, get a new doctor! My first was very old school, and gave me advice that had been debunked 30 years ago (i.e. don't let your heart rate get above 130, only exercise for 20 minutes at a time). I love running, so I found a doctor who was supportive and could give me informed advice based on research. It was a pain to switch but totally worth it. I realize it's a pain to switch again, but the last thing you want is to figure out which of your doctor's advice should be followed and which advice you shouldn't.

lucianneD · May 2013

I agree, thanks for the advice ladies!

vrj0522 · May 2013

I ran until I was 27 weeks along and only stopped because of ligament pain, otherwise I probably would have run until the end. As long as you have a normal pregnancy you should be able to do whatever you were doing before you got pregnant, just watch your exertion levels. What is dangerous to the baby is getting to overheated so make sure that you stay hydrated and that you don't overdo it. At 9 months I was still doing a weight lifting (power pump) class, bootcamp, cross fit, and lots and lots of walking. As long as you are careful not to injure yourself or overdo it, you really can continue exercising normally.

lucianneD · May 2013

boot camp and cross fit! I am envious, I can't do those things not pregnant

trudibell · May 2013

My first doctor sent me to the emergency room when I had some spotting and said no more running even though I was running 5miles 4-5x a week before getting pregnant. My second doctor said this was bad advice since my pregnancy has gone normal since, however by the time I got to the second doctor I totally lost it and have relegated myself to the eliptical machine since.

I say yes, run while pregnant as long as you can, I think some of my weight gain (31 pounds at 35 weeks eep) would have been mitigated if I had kept it up.

natalie202 · May 2013

I ran through my entire first pregnancy up to half marathon distances and am still running strong almost halfway through pregnancy number two. No OB or midwife I have seen has had any problem with me continuing to run, provided my pregnancy is complication free and I respect my body's changing limits.

To be honest, I wouldn't continue seeing a provider who told me not to run without providing a specific medical reason. All of the latest research shows that in a healthy pregnancy, exercise, including running, is actually good for both mother and baby. Based on this, I see a generic no running recommendation as proof that a doctor isn't up to date on or isn't using the latest research about pregnancy, and that's not something I'm okay with accepting in a medical professional.

angelalcoelho · May 2013

Running, as long as like these ladies said, has been apart of your routine before AND is done with your body's new limitations is fine. My OB encourages working out and reminded me that labor is the most intense workout a woman will ever do, so why wouldn't you "train" for it. she did mention one of the reasons women are advised not to run had to do with the placement of the placenta (of course that would fall into line with a risky pregnancy) but if you're having a healthy pregnancy you're fine!

My mom reminded me too that women still did lots of labor intensive jobs back in the day and they had normal babies too sometimes to much information is paralyzing

Mrs.CJ · May 2013

Depends so much on your pregnancy risk factors, condition, etc. The doctor's call is the best. And they can also determine what is safe for you and the baby. I was allowed to run through my pregnancy, but was just recently encouraged to start resting more for the last few weeks. So I will likely just be walking and doing yoga, which my dr has OKed for me.

Good luck with evreything!

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