Exercise info on Wikipedia M/C page

vinerie · September 2015

Took a gander at the Wikipedia page on miscarriage and the entry on exercise is a bit puzzling. By no means am I suggesting that Wikipedia is a definitive source, but the section references a large-scale study in which nearly all forms of exercise were associated with a higher miscarriage rate. WTF?
A study of more than 92,000 pregnant women found that most types of exercise (with the exception of swimming) correlated with a higher risk of miscarrying prior to 18 weeks. Increasing time spent on exercise was associated with a greater risk: an approximately 10% increased risk was seen with up to 1.5 hours per week of exercise, and a 200% increased risk was seen with more than 7 hours per week of exercise. However, the study found none of these risks to be statistically significant. High-impact exercise was especially associated with the increased risk. No relationship was found between exercise rates after the 18th week of pregnancy. The majority of miscarriages had already occurred at the time women were recruited for the study, and no information on nausea during pregnancy or exercise habits prior to pregnancy was collected.[41]
I'm a big believer in regular cardio and weight lifting. We always hear that it is safe. Why would this page only include info about the risks? Should we edit the Wiki? Who has research to the contrary? How much are you exercising and what is your reason for doing so?

austintoastie · September 2015

I wonder who put that 'information' up there? That contradicts everything else I've read (even my Mayo book says otherwise) and been told by my doctors. I'm continuing to work out - I've exercised several times a week for the past 20+ years and I'm not about to completely stop now. It makes me feel better, I'll be in good shape for delivery, hopefully it'll help me recover well after. I admit I've lightened my arm weights a bit - but only because I get winded fast these days. I've adjusted my jogging - 5 mins jogging, 2 mins walking - for 30 mins - vs. my previous 30 mins solid - again due to getting a bit winded more easily now. I'm still lifting - not that I was doing bodybuilder weights to begin with, but I'm still at my previous leg weight practice. No adjustments needed there yet. I'll let my dr give me advice. Shame on that wiki page and whoever added that info.

vinerie · September 2015

I'm still working out, too. My one worry is my weekly spin class. It's easily the most intense thing I do as it is essentially HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Last week on the bike I felt more nauseous than I ever have before; I wasn't dizzy or anything, but I felt like I was going to throw up everywhere. I eased it back for about 5 minutes, recovered, and then finished the ride.

"They" often say that you have to listen to your body when it comes to exercise. If you feel dizzy/weak, then back it off. But I wonder if that is because you are doing something that is at some risk to the fetus, or you are doing something that could be a risk to YOU (like fainting) that then, by extension, would also be a risk to the fetus?

ETA: GIF (because we need more of these around here!) and to say that one of the instructors at my spin studio is pretty far along--I'd guess 6-7 months, which made me feel like spinning would be okay. I mean, a doctor's 'okay' would be better, though.

lalala2004 · September 2015

My doctor told me to keep my heart rate under 140 and to rest every 30 minutes no matter what. Maybe the exercise in this study was exceeding those limits?

kbrands7 · September 2015

lalala2004 said:

My doctor told me to keep my heart rate under 140 and to rest every 30 minutes no matter what. Maybe the exercise in this study was exceeding those limits?

My doctor had similar advice. He's more of a stickler for weight limits due to risk of injury and blood oxygen level concerns for those who don't breathe through lifting, but has followed it up with "lift correctly and listen to your body." He also mentioned that high impact exercise can weaken the pelvic floor for some women (most notably making bladder control more difficult in the third trimester). There was no mention in either this pregnancy or last, that exercise causes miscarriage. I agree, it seems possible that this information is from women who didn't follow any guidelines, or pushed to the point of injury.

kbrands7 · September 2015

https://ajl.sagepub.com/content/2/5/441.abstract This study has an overall positive outcome and references two others with positive associations to exercise within a low-risk pregnancy. There is also this study, which shows the link between positive fetal brain development and moderate maternal exercise during pregnancy: https://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=f847724b-37dd-4747-87ff-7a1115d695aa&cKey=e7a54b5b-2d24-4877-9f40-f64c06fad5f0&mKey={8D2A5BEC-4825-4CD6-9439-B42BB151D1CF}

TheThornBird · September 2015

I haven't read the entire paper cited yet, but in the abstract itself it says:
"The results should, however, be interpreted cautiously as potential bias arising from retrospective data collection may explain part of the association."

So I'd keep that in mind. I'll try to read thru the whole paper sometime this week, but I think there's probably some bias, and it's also only one paper.

Lusitano8 · September 2015

Everything that I've read & heard from other moms says that as long as you're not identified as "at risk" continuing your normal exercises and modifying is perfectly safe. Like taking breaks when your winded and not laying on your back when you're in the 2 or 3 tri.

I've been feeling much better on the days when I exercise. I can't imagine that going from an active lifestyle to sedentary would be good for my body or the little one's. I did yoga and Pilates before, so now I'm just doing Pilates since yoga gets me breathing really heavy. There's a lot of good instructors that know how to modify workouts for pregnancy so that's what I plan to do.

yogahh · September 2015

I limited my working out. Stopped kickboxing and running, and just doing low impact cardio and light weight lifting now. I want to be strong, but at the same time don't want to give up all forms of exercise as its one of the few outlets I have left now that wine is out.

JessicaB0627 · September 2015

The information also states that statistically there was no significant difference. In scientific studies that means the data cannot be used to say that exercise has any effect on miscarriage rates, basically there is statistically no difference between the experimental group and the control group.

vinerie · September 2015

JessicaB0627 said:

The information also states that statistically there was no significant difference. In scientific studies that means the data cannot be used to say that exercise has any effect on miscarriage rates, basically there is statistically no difference between the experimental group and the control group.

Right!? So why is that the ONE study up on Wikipedia about the relationship between exercise and m/c? WE need to edit that page!!

JessicaB0627 · September 2015

@vinerie Someone wanted to freak people out I guess? Or someone put that information up there not knowing what it says.

Edit: Forgot to tag

Liscucu · September 2015

I have continued to workout so far. However when I was on elliptical today I reached 140 rather quickly and was quite surprised. (Assuming the hand reading was correct). I've also continued weight lifting but not going as heavy. Just more reps.

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