Workout while pregnant stance??

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

Needless to say, everyone has me terrified of having a miscarriage. I did go to the gym the first week I knew but only did a spin class and Tabata. No lifting. I ha to stop 15 minutes early on both classes. Didn't want to over heat and I was beat. I would whip trough these classes before with no issues and lift and run.

No I'm having second thoughts. They say my age (37) increases my miscarriage chances and some say I shouldn't do anything during 1st trimester. Anyone have any thoughts or experiance with past pregnancies??

moroccojade · April 2014

I still exercise every day. (Barre classes). I modify as I feel necessary. I walk a fair bit, too.

I wouldn't want to be Crossfitting till I puked while pregnant (or ever!

... but I think keeping your strength, flexibility and balance while pregnant is so important. I think I would feel awful period if I quit exercising for 9 months!

Find a class or routine that feels right for you.

KateLouise · April 2014

My understanding is that if it's a routine your body was used to pre-pregnancy then there's no reason not to continue and it's good to continued.

I'm a huge believer in listening to your body. If you feel like it's too much then pull back, but it sounds like you're doing that already.

Krisd6 · April 2014

I continued working out with my trainer for the the first 2 months I was pregnant. We toned it down a lot- would not let my heart rate go above 130 and she would constantly stop me to see if I could say the abcs without getting short of breath. She used to kill me and really took it down a lot once I told her I was pregnant. I found I couldnt run/jog (and didn't want to!) because my chest hurt so much! My boobs were so sore the first trimester! I stopped working out with her and started to do the elliptical, treadmill, weights and yoga. By the time I got to my 4th and 5th month i just did yoga and walking here and there- I toned it down quite a bit!!

I was nervous too. This is my first baby and while the MD said exercise doesn't cause miscarriages- I was nervous.

I'm 35 weeks now and do yoga once a week. Walking is getting tougher!

Listen to your body and do what feels right. At first I felt guilty about not going to classes, spin, bootcamp- but I wanted to take it easy and enjoy my pregnancy. I figured I can go back to that afterwards!! Do what makes you happy and if it doesn't feel right- stop.

Good luck!

OutdoorGirl10 · April 2014

Agree with the other posters. My doc said keep my HR below 140 and if I need to stop earlier than I usually do, do it. He reminded me that if I can't go as long on the elliptical or feel exhausted that it's not because I'm out of shape, but that my body is creating another person. That little reminder has been good for me on the days I feel like ai should do more but just can't .

JilliansMoma · April 2014

With my last two pregnancies (I was 36 and 38) my RE said absolutely no working out. It bummed me out because I was swimming and running before I got PG. With this PG (I'm 40 now) my Dr said all normal activity when I asked about my scheduled races. I wonder if the RE is being extra cautious because a miscarriage would impact their SART results. I ageee with PP listen to your body and you should be OK. Sometimes it's hard to find the right balance as our bodies change! GL, JM

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

Outdoor girl, I think you have me an idea. I think I'll pick up a heart monitor and track with that at least through the first trimester. I know I'll have I scale back some those three months but that's ok. Better than stopping all together:)

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

Krisd, thanks! I'll def head the advice. I do workout hard when I go. I'll just need to find a different routine.:)

Jennoskcaj · April 2014

I'm 39 and a FTM. I also was told by my RE no exercise in the beginning (first 12 weeks). Then once I progressed into the 2nd trimester I worked out a few times but couldn't help but feel guilty while doing it "just in case". This was hard for me to get over because it took us so long to conceive and DH was also against me working out. I'm now in the final days of my pregnancy (today is my due date - still no labor), and I can't wait to get my body back and workout without worrying about doing any harm to the pregnancy. I feel sore, stiff and HUGE!! I think working out would have helped with all of that. 20/20 hindsight, I probably will continue to workout lightly throughout my next pregnancy. All the research I did said it's a good thing, but I just let the "what if voice" in my head mess with me this time around.

JilliansMoma · April 2014

Jennoskcaj said:
I'm 39 and a FTM. I also was told by my RE no exercise in the beginning (first 12 weeks). Then once I progressed into the 2nd trimester I worked out a few times but couldn't help but feel guilty while doing it "just in case". This was hard for me to get over because it took us so long to conceive and DH was also against me working out. I'm now in the final days of my pregnancy (today is my due date - still no labor), and I can't wait to get my body back and workout without worrying about doing any harm to the pregnancy. I feel sore, stiff and HUGE!! I think working out would have helped with all of that.

20/20 hindsight, I probably will continue to workout lightly throughout my next pregnancy. All the research I did said it's a good thing, but I just let the "what if voice" in my head mess with me this time around.

Completely understandable. We want to be pregnant so badly and invest so much time and money with RE it's hard to shut that "what if voice" off. Best of luck to you with your labor and delivery!

MrsL2B · April 2014

I didn't work out much during my first trimester for various reasons, but mostly because I was exhausted. I also had spotting almost daily in the early weeks, so a lot of stuff that required core strength made me nervous. I picked up the pace quite a bit after I got into the second trimester and started to get my energy back. I'm doing things a little differently than before, but I'm pleased to be getting in good cardio, strength, and flexibility workouts.

2redtulips · April 2014

The rule of thumb is that you can continue to exercise during pregnancy, but don't start any activities that you weren't doing before you got pregnant. If you are higher risk for some reason other than just age, your doctor might tell you to take it easy, but light exercise is usually encouraged.

I have asked my OB plus another doc in his practice, and both of them have told me my level of exercise is just fine. (I asked again after some of the older ladies in my Zumba classes started giving me concerned looks that I was exercising - annoying.) I walk 2-3 miles per day and I take a one-hour Zumba class twice a week.

The second OB said that I could exercise at a decent exertion level, but that I should be able to speak a sentence during my workout. If I can't speak a sentence, I need to dial back the exertion. I also modify if I am feeling more tired or achy one day.

I know lifting heavy weight is discouraged, but using lighter weights should be ok.

Definitely talk to your provider, but my take is that exercise will help with labor, will help prevent things like pre-eclampsia, etc. I am 39, btw.

Lovemygirls&babytobe · April 2014

I think it's very important to exercise, stretch, and take extra special care of yourself (and your lil one) when you are pregnant. I do CrossFit and though I stopped at the beginning of my pregnancy I am back doing it again! I love it! I feel energized and wonderful after a WOD! The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be modified for ANYONE! I scale my workouts appropriately. My coaches are phenomenal! I keep my heart rate lower than I would and I modify my workouts to almost non-impact. I also do not lift nearly as much as I did prior to finding out I am pregnant. I am doing that for my own reasons and I have known women to do well with WOD's modified much less than me. You know your body best. You know what feels good and what is uncomfortable. Talk with your doctor and come up with a plan that works best for you! Best wishes to all!

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

How long did you stop for? The entire 1st trimester?

QOTR · April 2014

I continued to run through my first three pregnancies (all losses) with a heart monitor. For this one, at the RE's recommendation, I eliminated running because I just didn't want to second-guess myself again if we suffered another loss. I've done a lot of walking and prenatal yoga and my doctor is pleased with my weight gain. I am nervous about starting back up. I hope that I haven't totally lost my level of fitness when it comes to running, but I don't regret giving it up.

Like others have said, talk with your doctor first, listen to your body second and don't be too hard on yourself either way. Best of luck to you for a smooth pregnancy!

dragonfly711 · April 2014

I had a Mmc feb of 2013 at 11 1/2 weeks.

This time I have to admit I was very cautious. I didn't excersise. I have horses and my hubby would feed them for me.

I might have taken more precautions but being 40 I didn't want any what ifs.

I am 31 weeks pregnant and I am still cautious.

jlinvick · April 2014

I am higher risk, due to age and borderline low PAPP-A, so was concerned about exercise. I stopped working with my trainer b/c it was incredibly intense and I was reeeeeally nauseous during every workout. I've been doing prenatal yoga, which has been great and also surprisingly challenging! Also swimming and deep water aerobics.

Check with your doc, but generally speaking exercise during pregnancy is a good thing. My doc basically said to stay away from the crazy intense exercise, but that remaining active is a good thing.

Good luck

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

I definatly cut back. Im not doing my classes nor running right now. I retested my hcg this past wed and it wasnt good. Im taking it easy till I see what happens next wed on my next draw. Im am using my light weights and walked an incline for about 20 minutes a few times this week.

The doctor said I should be fine but I typically work out pretty intense so I really dont feel comfortable after Wed results. Hopefully everything turns around and I just have a late bloomer:)

Thanks and good luck to you as well!!

anations · April 2014

Agree with most all. I did a lot of research on this through my first two pregnancies (3 losses). Your body really will guide you. With my first I was able to run (jog), but had to slow down and decrease mileage. It was fine and my mc was due to trisomy, so nothing I could have done (although we blame ourselves anyway, right?). This pregnancy I was told no ex for first 8 weeks, but I think RE being more cautious. Of course I listened though!! Then when given the green light, I could barely jog for minutes at a time then got too hard fast, so stuck with walking. Swimming is easiest, but did much less than normal, much slower. Here are the rules that I found in most references:
1. Usually ok if you had already been participating in said exercise
2. Talk test as mentioned earlier (make sure you don't get so out of breath you can't talk)
3. Avoid getting too hot or dehydrated
4. No impact sports or something where you could fall
5. As for the heartrate, you can look it up, those were the recommendations of the American college of obstetrics and gynecologists (staying under 140) in the 1980's, they have since revised and deleted the heartrate and say to listen to you body. That said, I still used a monitor to make sure it didn't go crazy:)

olenkapdx · April 2014

I was going to the gym up til week 38 of my pregnancy, mostly going to aquarobics class (awesome for pregnant ladies!), also doing elliptical and treadmill. Also did some light hikes in my first tri (when I was feeling up to it) and early second tri (the weather got too crappy to continue after that). I definitely cut back on the intensity of my usual pre-pregnancy workout, drank a LOT of water, and took more breaks. I also have issues with arthritis, so I have to be more conservative with my workouts anyway.

Consult your Dr. first and listen to your body!

fromvatobk · April 2014

I'm in pretty good shape and my midwife gave me no restrictions on exercising. Of course, I've been barfing every morning for about 7 weeks now so I really haven't been able to work out other than walking, but I have started to get back to gym again slowly recently. What I did with last pregnancy and this one is buy a heartrate monitor and just keep an eye on it. I don't follow the 140 rule, but do pay attention to what my body is saying (don't want to get dizzy or overheated). Basically it just means that my workouts are a little shorter and that I don't have to push as hard to get the same heartrate level I had before pregnancy. Other than that, nothing will change. BTW--the great thing about spin is that you can just downwardly adjust the tension on the flywheel discreetly if you are feeling overworked and nobody will know! Hang in there and listen to your body!

Wish4BabyM · April 2014

Thanks! Advise very much appreciated!!!

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