Support thread for people trying to exercise while pregnant

[fitzbilly]

Hi, I'm fifteen weeks pregnant and really want to keep on being fit and active during pregnancy, so thought I'd start a thread for others to join to to help keep us all motivated and share tips.

I am a runner and have been trying to keep that up but am going much slower than usual, park run gets slower by about a minute per week, I did it in 32:30 yesterday.

I am also a climber but won't keep that up once the belt gets in the way, and surfing is now out of the question

Today I am doing a ten k race, I am not going to focus on time at all, instead monitoring my heart and keeping it below 165 as recommended by my midwife.

What are other people doing? Share here to keep us all motivated! I am finding it a bit hard losing my running when all my friends seem to be getting PBs, and I have to have a stern word with myself and remind myself I have a baby in there.

[fitzbilly]

I am also trying to walk more to make up for the lack of usual exercise, but I do find walking so boring!

[squeezed]

Could you try different exercise as well? Swimming is what I switched to last pregnancy because of back problems.
I really wish I could exercise this pregnancy. I've had debilitating HG and now can barely walk with spd. My muscles have turned to jelly and I haven't exercised in nearly 8 months. I'm dreaming of a healthy diet and exercise

[fitzbilly]

Squeezed I have thought of swimming but it would involve a half hour drive to get there and another half hour home, so send a lot of effort after a day of work.

So sorry you are struggling with spd now

[squeezed]

That's a shame. In both pregnancies I found the lack of high impact sport difficult to change from. Accepting that your body is growing a baby and you can't push it the same is difficult. Good to know that other people are still exercising, even if I also secretly hate anyone who can exercise

[fitzbilly]

When are your due squeezed? You could have a count down till you get to exercise again, or sign up to a race you'll be able to do so you have a goal?

I did the ten k race in one hour and three minutes today, which I am pleased with.

I have signed up to a few more races to help keep my motivation up to run.

I found the first trimester the hardest with running, I was exhausted all the time. Glad that's over now.

[mumwhoruns]

Hello I'm about to give birth (argh) but managed to stay running - actually wouldn't call it that - till couple weeks ago. I could only Manage a couple of miles really but just wanted to keep going as I felt left out!
Otherwise I swam lots and gave really got into that and done some yoga. I reckon I should have kept up more with gym stuff as I'm all wobbly now what with extra eating and not really doing much exercise. Wish I had done some toning arm and leg stuff really.
Itching to get back to exercising again.
My main issue was nausea bleurgh.

[fitzbilly]

Mumwhoruns you are my inspiration, staying running till a few weeks before giving birth!

Yesterday I did 5k slowly after work, and today did a very short two miles just to get out of the house for a bit while the sub was out.

I do worry that I'm not doing saying to keep toned, might try some YouTube fitness workouts?

I had to battle the nausea for the first eight weeks.

[FuzzyOwl]

I think running will be out of the question for me, as I already had hip pains and am only 10+3, but am definitely doing yoga and swimming for as long as possible. Any other low impact suggestions? I have a ten month old who has just started toddling, so running over her is a constant!

[fitzbilly]

Fuzzy I wonder if cycling would be any good for you? Would that make your hips hurt?

[mumwhoruns]

What about those machines in the gym that are like steppers? They are low impact but give a good workout?

[fitzbilly]

So yesterday I went for a one hour session at the climbing wall which was fun, and today (after the rain stopped) I went for a very short two miles run just to get a bit of exercise.

Friday will be a rest day.

[mumwhoruns]

Rowing machine? Not sure if ok to do that or not - prob not v comfy as you get rounder

[mumwhoruns]

Climbing sounds cool

[fitzbilly]

At least with rowing machines you are sitting down! But maybe the bump would get in the way after a while!

Did park run this morning to in a very terrible time of 32:55. It was windy, raining and very muddy.

[TriJo]

My son is nearly 3 weeks old now, but I kept exercising until past my due date. I was training for triathlons when I got pregnant, I tried to keep up training as best I could. I did an Olympic distance triathlon at 8 weeks, stopped cycling at 14 weeks because London roads are scary, ran until 25 weeks, swam until 40+5, did gym cardio (stationary bike and elliptical) and light strength work until 35 weeks and yoga until 37 weeks. Did my last Parkrun in late November at 24 weeks in around 27 minutes.

I wouldn't change a thing - in the end my son's birth was very straightforward and I've recovered very quickly. The 6 week checkup feels like an awful long way away...

[TriJo]

Regarding the rowing machine - I had to stop using that at 19 weeks because it would make the baby kick like a mad thing within 3 minutes of starting on it!

[fitzbilly]

Wow trijo!!! That is epic.

Park run in 27 minutes when you were 25 weeks is very impressive! I am already allowing down to over thirty minutes!

I did a very hilly very muddy ten k race today in an hour and ten minutes. It was extremely muddy though, so had to be very careful not to slip.

[laracroft2001]

Hello

Hope I can join. Am around 8 weeks pregnant but also 6 weeks into a ruptured Achilles injury

A normal week sees me running/cycling over 50k plus weights /stepper and a lot of walking.

So bloody frustrating the last few weeks and knowing I won't necessarily be able to get back to normal until after child is also so demotivating

However have kept up the upper body stuff for the whole time -weights and arm cycle- and in last two weeks have started using the bike with my air cast on.

Hopefully can start swimming next week, but I am at least 6 weeks away from running!!

Last pregnancy was in the gym up til 3 days before birth- hoping I can do the same this time!!!

Congratulations to everyone!!

[mumwhoruns]

Great exercising all round!! Love parkrun too.

[fitzbilly]

Welcome laracroft and so sorry to hear about your injury, that sucks

At least you are keeping up your upper body work, you'll be back running in no time even if it is slower than usual!

[fitzbilly]

Yeah park run is at least one thing I know I'll always do, as we do it as a family so I'll at least keep that up!

[laracroft2001]

40 mins on the bike and some weights today

Can I still do ab work? I have stopped as I know lying on back exercises aren't recommended in pregnancy but there must be something I can do?

[TriJo]

You're not on your back for planks! I was doing them until I was well into the 3rd trimester.

[laracroft2001]

Yes planks will be good in a few weeks- problem is as I'm still in an air cast with the Achilles injury , it's really awkward and need to be careful. One legged planks it is!!

[Woody096]

Hi Ladies
May I join?
I am 11+5. (First pregnancy) I have been working out with a PT once a week for about a year before falling pregnant, plus training on my own 3 X per week. I really worked hard on strength training. Since being pregnant I have made it to the gym 1-2 per week and used much lighter weights.

I also haves young dog, he has just turned one, so we normally do a 2-3 mile walk everyday.

I really want to maintain the gym work, even when feeling utterly rubbish I found it has perked me up. I am really looking for tips on what exercises I should definitely avoid & any recommendations/tips for preg-friendly exercises. Sadly I am a rubbish runner, it does nothing for my hips 🙄