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Pregnancy

do I really have to stop?

17 replies

pinkr · 29/04/2013 11:41

Hi i'm 24 Weeks and today my midwife told me I shouldn't be doing aerobics classes anymore. I have a good instructor, avoid high impact, do others things when class works on abdominals etc. I thought I'd maybe get another 6 or 8 Weeks before is have to stop sure to size. What risks do you think there are? She recommended pilates which I might look into, and swimming ... But I can only breaststroke and find this hurts my back.
Do I need to stop right away put do you think I should keep going for a bit longer?

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gertrudestein · 29/04/2013 13:43

I'd be tempted to stop if that's what the midwife is recommending. I don't know about potential risks to the baby, but I certainly regret some of the more strenuous things I did in earlier stages of pregnancy, because I have injured myself and made myself even less active!

Have a read of this thread if you haven't already, which has some useful tips in it www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1706377-Fab-fit-mums-to-be-anyone-fancy-starting-a-fitness-activity-support-thread

Snowflakepie · 29/04/2013 14:32

Is there a reason the mw said to stop? As I am 33 weeks and have found a pregnancy exercise class after being recommended to try and boost my stamina by my mw! The complications I had with DD were due to exhaustion and also I get leg cramps most nights, and my mw said that as I am in good health generally and normal BMI etc, as long as I paid attention to my body and didn't overdo things then it was a good thing to keep mobile and also try and relax! Does she have visions of you leaping about the place, because clearly that would be daft but it doesn't sound like that's what you're doing anyway?

megarobotdiscoparty · 29/04/2013 15:26

Certain risks do increase as you get further along - your joints are under increasing pressure and you're more likely to become breathless or over-exerted. I'm surprised your mw has recommended you stop though, I was under the impression exercise was encouraged these days providing you are aware of risk factors that come along with your changing body and listen to your body and what feels good for you. I'm an aerobics instructor and my MW encouraged me to carry on teaching as long as I felt able. I stopped teaching at 30w- probably should have stopped a couple of weeks earlier as my body was telling me to, but that was my decision (blinded by the money at that stage!!). Ultimately it's your choice, you're "allowed" to do whatever you want and it's only her advice. Just make sure you read up on the ways your body is changing so you can adapt (tbh sounds like you're doing this anyway!)

Good luck.

megarobotdiscoparty · 29/04/2013 15:35

I would really recommend antenatal pilates by the way - and for post natal too. If I hadn't done this and a bit of light strength training I'd be hobbling with my bad back by now!

Agree with snowflake maybe mw has got it into her head that you're pushing yourself too hard?

pinkr · 29/04/2013 17:10

I'm perfectly healthy etc so no spd issues etc. maybe she thinks its more active than I am...I go at my own pace etc and know what not to do etc. I also mentioned gardening and she said I should do that either. I wouldn't want to risk anything but i'm sure a different midwife earlier on told me it was fine to keep going etc but I can't remember till when,

OP posts:

parttimer79 · 29/04/2013 17:16

I do aquanatal which I really like. I'm 25 weeks and still prettty fit but am starting to notice my breating is more laboured when going uphill - this could be because I am asthmatic though!

Sluggers · 29/04/2013 17:42

A midwife told me that I shouldn't be doing any abdominal exercises at 12 weeks.

Sometimes I think they just say things without really knowing or without realising the impact of what they say - ie you will worry.

I'm not saying your midwife was wrong and agree with trying to find out why she said it to be sure you understand the reason. It's just I've struggled with a few healthcare people saying things in relation to exercise that I'm not convinced are entirely founded in any fact...

doobeedee · 29/04/2013 18:00

My midwife told me this too. I think they say it mostly as a precaution if they're not sure. I'm still doing Body Attack with modifications at 18 weeks and intend to carry on as long as I feel find doing so.

megarobotdiscoparty · 29/04/2013 19:10

It's not recommended to do abdominal exercises beyond 12 weeks, for obvious reasons, but OP says she's skipping that part of the class, so that shouldn't be the mw's problem in this instance? Def talk to her again if you can OP or get a second opinion!

And admittedly I'm not a mw but telling you not to do gardening just sounds bizarre to me!

reikizen · 29/04/2013 19:18

You can continue to do whatever you feel comfortable with, with sensible precautions. You should avoid strong abdominal exercises as your abdominal muscles are under increasing strain anyway, just modify them. You should be careful when doing high impact exercise as the effect of progesterone on smooth muscle means you are more likely to sprain/strain something and you should avoid overheating due to the theoretical risk that significantly increasing your core temperature can pose to the fetus.
Not sure about her advice re: gardening. Did she mean the risks of toxoplasmosis? In future I would recommend asking her for clarification rather than some strangers who weren't even in the room when the conversation took place!

pinkr · 29/04/2013 20:10

Fair enough...I guess I just asked on here as many midwives seem to say different things etc certainly even taking to other pregnant ladies in rl. She seemed concerned about overdoing it re gardening etc. tbh I didn't find it very easy to talk to her as it was the first time I'd met her, she didn't explain any of what she was doing like why she measured my bump and I was by myself and I get flustered etc when nervous. I will ask for clarification when I see her in two Weeks.

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doobeedee · 29/04/2013 20:14

Certain Abdominal exercises are fine to do and in fact it's good to do them to strengthen your core. Stop if you feel you need to but if you feel ok then it's fine to continue. It's not recommended to do sit ups later on due to lying for long periods and feeling dizzy when getting up but again, if you feel fine and are used to it it's fine to continue.

Christelle2207 · 29/04/2013 20:20

Just tell your instructor and she should know which bits to modify. I'm on my way out to bodpump at 27 weeks and skip the abdominals. Instructor has been very helpful about what I can and can't do- she has 3 children herself. I don't think you should need to stop unless there is a specific reason. My friend ran frequently until 39 weeks and credits fitness with having a relatively short labour.

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 29/04/2013 20:30

I think there are a couple of reasons why; sounds like she couldn't communicate them very well.

Firstly raising your core temperature can be damaging to an unborn child - same reason why you should have a hot bath. It takes long for the baby to cool down than you. I'm not into fitness, but aerobic activity can make you quite hot especially when your unfit like me

I think the other issue is during pregnancy your ligaments soften to help with the impending birth; meaning you could be more susceptible to injuring yourself.

I wouldn't take advice from an instructor unless they are properly trained in looking after pregnant women. What might seem sensible advice to them could potentially be harmful to you or your baby.

Have you thought about walking instead? I have a dog so I did that quite a lot during pregnancy. Plus you'll get used to walking long distances with a pram before you know it

doobeedee · 29/04/2013 20:35

The main thing is knowing your limits and knowing what's normal for you. There are even pregnant women in the Body Attack training videos.

HazleNutt · 29/04/2013 21:06

I'm 32 weeks and just back from Tae Bo. I also still teach Bodypump classes without any issues. If you don't have any special health problems and are feeling fine, there is no reason to stop your normal activities. So yes, i would ask the mw why she thinks you should stop.

Studies have found that even intensive exercise during pregnancy only raised core temperature very little, nowhere near levels that are generally considered dangerous.

pinkr · 29/04/2013 21:48

A lot to think about. My instructor has been very food and has had children herself etc. she teaches aqua natal also so I'd hope she was qualified enough. I think being active is important to me as I'd get depressed not getting out etc. I do walk but I might up it to a few more times a week...can do quite a few miles normally but I don't see it as a fitness thing really!
I suppose it all depends individually so I'll be sensible but not just stop!

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