Exercise fanatic mummies (particularly if carrying twins)

[hayesgirl]

I am 28 weeks pregnant with twins. Second pregnancy. I'm very active and fit generally although I stopped running fairly early on because it was so uncomfortable but I have continued CrossFit and all the weightlifting (scaled down as the pregnancy has progressed).
Pregnancy has been fine, no issues with the babies or anything. However the last week or so I've noticed a huge change in energy levels and just generally get tired out by things much easier. I go to CrossFit in the mornings and when I'm there I feel fine - it's later in the day I feel it!
With my first pregnancy I continued gym etc until about 37 weeks but I'm seriously considering stopping now even though I am still 9 weeks from my due date!! I can't help thinking that I'm giving up on it too early!
I don't finish work for another 4 weeks and I'm finding full time work tiring enough without adding exercise into the equation!
How are other people dealing with exercise later on in pregnancy (especially twin mummies) ?

[RaRa1988]

Interesting - I'm 28 weeks as well, but with only the one baby (thank god - dunno how you do it!) and I've had a real energy crash these last few days. Up until then, I was feeling great, pretty much my usual self and certainly miles better than I felt at any point up to 14 weeks. Not sure what's happened. I went to the gym this morning and absolutely exhausted myself - I've just woken up from a nap :-/

[hayesgirl]

Maybe it's a 28 week blip then...? Think I might try another few sessions and see if it gets any better. If not, I think I will downgrade to some power walks around the park! : )

[Cariad007]

I didn't have twins but I exercised right up until the end - gave up body combat and body attack at 36 weeks but kept on with body pump three times a week til 38 weeks. After that I did yoga (with a 1.5 mile walk to the studio) everyday until my due date. I had a very straightforward birth, recovered quickly and was back in most of my pre-pregnancy clothes a week after the birth. I have my 6 week check up in two weeks time and after that can't wait to get back into the gym!

[RaRa1988]

Try swimming, OP, I find that is a good workout, but somehow less taxing than the gym - I think my main problem is that I get too hot in the gym. The last few times I've come out feeling really sick because of the heat.

[Roseandmabelshouse]

Listen to your body op. You are more likely to have the babies early, so you will probably find yourself slowing sooner with all that extra work you are doing!

[ReallyLoveWine]

Have any of you done metafit classes or intensive circuits whilst pregnant? I am only 4 weeks so v early days for me and not sure whether doing such intense exercise is a good idea.

[Cariad007]

If it's something you've been doing previously and you don't overheat or let your heart get above a certain rate (can't remember what it is but you could google it) then you should be fine.

[slightlyinsane]

I'm 27wks with twins and can't imagine doing anything other than trying to get through each day, I am beyond tired every day. I don't know if your mw measures your bump but at 26wks I was measuring at 32 ish wks of a singleton pregnancy add that to the short amount of time it takes to get much bigger and give yourself a break. Carrying twins is much harder (surprised me how different it is to a singleton) and your body is already working harder to grow 2. Don't wear yourself out because you feel you should be able to carry on longer, if you feel you need to be doing something swapthe exexercise for a relaxing walk instead.

[FreeButtonBee]

Well done you! I did pilates until about 25 weeks but was too too exhausted to manage anything else. I do credit it with saving my body from being totally destroyed by my pregnancy (got to 38+6 weeks!) so it might be worth a try? It is obviously less intensive but works deep core muscles which are under the most strain. Swimming is a good one. Also about about spin? If you take it easy rather than going hell for leather, it might be a good way to get your heart rate up but provide some physical support to your body.

[FreeButtonBee]

Oh and I definitely found life later post 28 weeks (was measurinf 38 weeks ie pretty much full term at that point) and by 32 weeks, I basically just stayed at home!

[feesh]

I really think that with twins (and I have twins myself) it is REALLY important to take it easy. Especially after 28 weeks or so. When you get to the third trimester, there is SO much pressure on your body, which can manifest as anything from GD to pre-eclampsia, and also your body just wants them out. It really does. It is HARD to keep cooking them. It's nothing like a singleton pregnancy. It requires lots and lots of rest. If your body does start fighting, you will be put on bed rest anyway. So why not pre-empt that by resting as much as you possibly can?

I've got really good friends with twins the same age as mine. Mine were born at 37 weeks and my friends' came at 36 and 30 weeks. Honestly, having seen what we all went through when they were tiny, I strongly believe every extra week you can cook them for makes so much difference when they finally come in terms of how easy things are. And I strongly believe that twin pregnancies need Mum to have a lot of rest to go the full distance.

You might feel ok now, but in a couple of weeks you are going to start getting really tired and you should try to give in to it and take it really easy.

So while I think singleton pregnancies are fine with an active mum, looking around our twins group I definitely think that carrying on exercising in the third tri is asking for trouble.

[caravela]

People who do yoga and/or pilates: did you find that there were loads of exercises that you couldn't do, and if so, was that a problem going to classes? I go to both once a week, and I'm really keen to carry on to keep my core strength up. At the moment I'm only 7 weeks, so it's not a big deal and I feel pretty much normal, but I'm aware that there's quite a lot of lying on your back/front in the classes which is likely to get difficult further down the line.

[ReallyLoveWine]

Thanks cariad, will look into heart rate stuff. Am so impressed with all this chat of exercising while pregnant with twins!!

[Amyrose82]

Wow impressive ladies! I'm only six weeks and found out last Friday - am running every weekday morning and doing Pilates, yoga and body tone classes. Did do metafit previously but it's a class where I can't help but push myself to the absolute limit and last week (the day before I found out I was pg) I remember feeling dizzy and sick by the end, so have decided to stop for the moment - at least until we're past the first scan

[Amyrose82]

Ooh and Caravela - apparently you're fine until about 16 weeks, after this I know ladies in my Pilates class do the exercises on gym balls instead of on the mat and with yoga it's more a case of adapting or doing alternative poses.

[FreeButtonBee]

re pilates, I did a pregnancy class but it was still pretty hardcore (had 38 week pregnant ladies balancing on a ball with their legs against the wall and doing horizontal squats!)

i think you'd find a normal class is not sufficiently differentiated for pregnany once you get a proper bump plus some inversions are not recommended. Please tell your instructor asap.

[hayesgirl]

Thanks ladies - especially the twin mummies. I am actually a bit shocked at how different this pregnancy has turned our from my singleton pregnancy especially because until recently it was going pretty much the same! Getting through work each day is a huge struggle so I think I will definitely do something a bit more gentle for now.
Feesh, you are absolutely right about cooking them as long as possible. I do need to listen to my body and right now my body is telling me to sleep!!! : )