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Pregnancy

How much exercise are you doing?

27 replies

HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 21/01/2014 18:54

Well, that's pretty much it really. I'm doing none and eating really badly, both of which stop today. Tomorrow I'll be going swimming at our local pool and I'm going to start eating normally again. But this is my first pregnancy and I'm curious - do you think that swimming twice a week and a pregnancy yoga lesson once a week would be sufficient to keep me in relative health?

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EeyoreIsh · 21/01/2014 19:00

Very little at 38 weeks. I try to keep active around the house (on maternity leave now) and go for a walk every day, and a walk of an hour or so every other day. I'd do more but I get breathless, exhausted and have ligament pain.

Early on I did more but mainly lots of walking. I've done a bit of pregnancy pilates and yoga throughout.

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Sleepwhenidie · 21/01/2014 19:04

It's all depends what you were doing before IMO. The swimming will be good for maintaining fitness but the pg yoga is really more about relaxation, it won't be asthanga!

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greentshirt · 21/01/2014 19:04

I did very little to start with and have a panic on about being strong enough to labour well. I'm doing aqua natal once a week and pre natal Pilates. I really wanted to start going to a pregnancy yoga class too but there's none in my area. Keep meaning to swim once a week too but haven't got round to it yet. I'm nearly 29 weeks

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Ellisisland · 21/01/2014 19:08

I'm early stages only 6 weeks but it's my 2nd and I did the same thing with my first.

Prenatal Pilates and swimming. Swimming I loved especially as I got bigger because it was the only time I felt light iykwim. I only did prenatal Pilates once a week last time but I am determined to do it more this pregnancy. I had a tough labour last time round and I am hoping if I am fitter this time won't be so bad. How far along are you ?

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Wuxiapian · 21/01/2014 19:09

Hardly any.

I'm 34 weeks and even walking is painful - has been for the last 6 weeks :

I used to walk the dog 3 times a day when pregnant with DC2 (until about 8 months) and felt fit and strong through labour. Swimming would be great.

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starrynight123 · 21/01/2014 20:27

Right now, I'm not doing any. I'm struggling with pregnancy-related sickness (I refuse to call it 'morning' sickness, because I'm nauseous all day long!!) and am finding it hard to walk around the flat without being racked with nausea and trying not to be sick. God, I hope it ends soon...

But, I have an antenatal pilates dvd (5 sets of 10 min exercises) that I'm really keen to start doing as soon as I can get up without being sick. Also, I've always walked a lot and am also keen to continue that.

To be honest, that's it... we don't have any public swimming pools anywhere near us, only ridiculously expensive gym pools that I can't afford, and ditto the gyms and their classes. But, then, I'm not a big fan of classes anyway!

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LightTripper · 21/01/2014 20:45

Very little (at 27 weeks). I am going to Pilates once a week because I put my back out before Christmas, and am doing it with my physio to try to prevent a relapse. But it's not exactly heavy going - just trying to strengthen my back.

I used to walk a couple of miles a day - but like others because of the nausea (which is better but not gone sadly) I haven't felt up to that. I may try to go back to it though, as mornings are my best-time nausea wise... I really don't want to feel like a passive blob in labour, so would love to do something. Really must try to get back into at least walking more.

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eurochick · 21/01/2014 20:48

None at the moment as I have been bleeding. It's driving me mad. I don't go loads usually but am always at the gym a couple of times a week and walk everywhere. I hate being so sedentary, particularly when my appetite has increased (downside to no MS, for which I am otherwise very grateful).

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moomin35 · 21/01/2014 21:32

21 weeks and doing a few 30 minute walks a week so very little!

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KiwiBanana · 21/01/2014 21:35

Walking DS to school most days, that's 30 minutes of walking. Planning on starting swimming next week. We do a big walk every other weekend but that's about it

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BlanketSky · 21/01/2014 22:47

nothing, can't even walk the dog as PGP is too bad. I had all good plans this time but sickness prevented me starting, then PGP kicked in at 14/15 weeks. 25 weeks and counting...

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Ilovekittyelise · 21/01/2014 23:01

absolutely fuck all. last time was swimming 100 lengths every other day until the end. this time (@37 wks) am put off going to tesco if i cant park near enough. no energy, everything hurts and feel like one of those bariatric patients than ends up being taken out of their house using a crane.

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livingzuid · 22/01/2014 05:01

Couldn't do anything until about week 16 as I had hg. Then it would down and I started swimming 40 laps 3-4 times a week and walking the dog lots. I have raised blood pressure and am working very hard to make sure it doesn't rise any more! Except now the poor dog has cut his paw so no walks right now.
I indulge in chocolate but apart from that try to stay healthy.

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Fasterkillpussycat · 22/01/2014 05:51

I am lucky that I have not suffered from spd or anything like that so I have been able to keep up with some things, like spin (albeit a lot slower than before). I stopped running pretty much straight away and do some swimming and yoga. I did less during the first trimester when I was feeling sick. I think you just need to go with what feels right. I get insomnia so am trying to use exercise to force me to sleep.

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HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 22/01/2014 08:11

Thank you all! Pretty mixed bag then. I really need to get moving I think, at the very least I need to take a walk.

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annielosthergun · 22/01/2014 08:29

I am 21 weeks and playing tennis twice a week for an hour - have noticed am starting to ache a bit afterwards but intend to continue till bump is properly in the way. I will replace with swimming twice a week when that happens. Preg Pilates and yoga once each as well and have gone back to the gym (only for half an hour a time!) now hg has relented. Last time I did Zumba till 30 weeks - loved it and it was easy to slow the pace as I got bigger, no class nearby this time though which is sad!

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Julietee · 22/01/2014 08:50

Yes, I think swimming twice a week plus yoga will do you just fine.

I've been walking all the way through, but had to scale it back around week 25 (to about 50 mins per walk). Now at 35 weeks I'm finding the days when I can do a full walk without my body objecting in some way are much less frequent! Though some ladies are absolutely fine at this stage beyond, so it just depends on what your body is happy with.

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Em1503 · 22/01/2014 08:55

I'm 13 weeks and struggling to even walk the dog every day at the moment! Hoping I start to feel better soon so I can start doing a bit more again...!

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orangemouth281 · 22/01/2014 08:57

I haven't suffered with any sickness so have been able to exercise throughout. I gave up running at 13 weeks because it just didn't feel right. I did spin once a week until 24 weeks, and body pump up until last week. I am 38+6 now so just swimming and walking for half an hour three times a week. I feel really lucky as I haven't felt ill at all, just tired.

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HazleNutt · 22/01/2014 09:50

I did loads, but I also did loads before pregnancy. If you did not exercise before, it's not recommended to go all fitness-crazy suddenly. Swimmming, walking, yoga and healthy eating sounds like a good plan.

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GuyMartinsSideburns · 22/01/2014 10:05

Im 35 weeks and Im walking about 3 miles a day on the school run. That's seeming about enough for me at the moment, Ive certainly slowed down!

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loopylouu · 22/01/2014 10:59

Nothing.

But then again I was very lazy pre pregnancy too.

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ChicaMomma · 22/01/2014 11:25

Gin, it all changes for me now too.

I've been doing prego yoga once a week (i love it) since 13 weeks and a little bit of walking a day, but i'm going to add:

  • 2x longer walks of 30-45 mins
  • 1x aquarobics
  • 1x online pilates (let me know if you 'd like the link, found it on here actually and it's great)


I'm determined to stay fit,if for no other reason it helps with labour. Everyone says it.
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RaRa1988 · 22/01/2014 13:05

I'm doing a lot, but then I'm only 20 weeks with next to no bump and I've always done a lot. I'm riding, running, swimming, doing pilates, yoga, and going to the gym all at least once a week and I intend to for as long as I can - though I accept the riding and running will probably have to go before the rest! I think what you're doing is fine though - general advice seems to be to keep exercising at the level you're used to as long as you feel ok and aren't advised otherwise , but not to take up anything new.

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Expectingtwins1975 · 22/01/2014 18:22

I'm 16+5 and have done hardly any exercise. Only seen the inside of the gym 3 times since becoming pregnant. Before pregnancy used to exercise every day. Feel crap about lack of exercise but just feel horrible and completely knackered most of the time. (Having twins so use that as my excuse!). Starting a pregnancy exercise class next week - hoping it re-motivates me to get off my ever expanding arse.

Incidentally going to do the fit back & bumps exercise classes - anyone ever done them before?

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