Exercising while pregnant

[cocodash]

Last year I got married and quickly fell pregnant and I am now 22 weeks with our first baby. In the two years before my wedding I lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise and found a real enjoyment in exercise. I have been lucky with my pregnancy so far and have been well enough to continue my exercise regime pretty much so far as normal (with some slight adjustments along the way) I have no real bump yet and haven’t put on much weight yet (about 6lbs so far)… I am in no means skinny and am usually a curvy size 12/14.

A new colleague (a female about 15 years older than me) started in my team who I previously worked at in another job role and was horrified because I haven’t put on much weight, that I’m not showing, and that because I’m still exercising 4/5 times a week. She says I’m inconsiderate for continuing this way as I’m putting myself and my body under stress and I’m obviously more concerned about keeping up my exercise than the health of my unborn baby. She stated that I need to slow down and stop my exercise and just go light walks or a gentle swim. And she also insinuated that I was deliberately not eating and still dieting. She expressed her concern to everyone in my team that I was putting myself and my unborn child at risk. And no matter how much I tried to explain and defend myself she wouldn’t listen and was very vocal about this which was extremely embarrassing (and upsetting) for me in my place of work which has people now questioning me, what I eat and any time I head to (or mention) the gym.

I am not naive enough to expect to keep exercising at this level for ever but I don’t see why I should stop before my body tells me it’s ready to stop. AIBU to think this way?

Have any of you lovely mums out there continued with an active lifestyle / exercise regime? Just looking to hear from others who have been in my positon as the work situation has been making me question everything.

For context not to drip feed I take part in a boot camp style fitness class twice a week which is a mix of cardio and weights, I do a weights programme in the gym which was designed by a PT when I was 15weeks pregnant, and I also do classes such as body attack and spin.

@cocodash : I've heard great things about Next maternity gear and have ordered some tights. Fittamama also has a great online review. As another poster suggested: lululemon do great yoga pants that double up into preggo gym gear. I don't go to the gym enough but they're great for yoga/pilates

YANBU. Your colleague was rude (potentially jealous)? You've done well to continue your healthier lifestyle, as long as you're not overdoing it exercise wise then you'll be fine. It's more a risk to your body eg injuries due to relaxin hormone rather than injury to the baby (assuming you're not doing anything extreme!).

Seek some advice from a PT as you get bigger but unless you're doing extreme weights or anything else extreme, carry on as you're comfortable.

And 6lb by 20 weeks isn't "too little" to gain at all, especially as by your admission you weren't super slim to start off with. I know some poor people who've lost a lot of weight by that point due to HG etc. As long as you're eating enough of the right foods, you're doing really well.

I'm a bit envious as although I'm slim when not pregnant, in both pregnancies the horrendous first trimester nausea and only being able to eat beige rubbish and not exercise means I gained half a stone by the 12 week scan both times, and 2.5-3 stone overall! I'm 38 weeks today and just did a pregnancy YouTube workout it's good for you.

Erm... "labour" is hard work and so the fitter you are the easier it will be... at least in theory. Obviously every woman and every birth is different and being fit and active throughout pregnancy is no guarantee of an easy time, nor is laying on the sofa for 9 months going to make birth harder, but...
And it is about the recovery afterwards as well. If you are fit you should recover far quicker...
I used a heart rate monitor and adapted routines when pregnant. I increased swimming towards the end. I made gym staff aware and they helped me choose appropriate exercises throughout. There does come a point where there is a big bump in the way!!!
Sounds like you are doing great.
As for your colleague: "Thank you for your concern but this is my body and my pregnancy and I am taking advice from professionals".

I had a huge bump due to polyhydramnios. I did aerobics 3 times a week until 34 weeks. I avoided the sit ups etc but my instructor was great at giving me alternatives. I also avoided any position that put a strain on my pelvis but I was still bouncing around. I then moved onto water aerobics. I knew when I was done and I stopped.
The 2nd pregnancy I was unto body pump and kept that going unto 16 weeks when I had to stop due to ligament issues... listen to your body.

Next time she says anything, ask her loudly where she got her medical degree from as she is clearly far more knowledgeable than your midwife

Your response should ‘My doctor/midwife/obstetrician is happy with my weight gain and exercise routine’. Depending on how much she pisses you off, that can be followed by ‘are you saying they are wrong?’ Or ‘when did you become a healthcare practitioner?’ Or ‘I’m concerned that what you are saying goes against current medical advice, why would say that?’ Or ‘why are you taking such a keen interest in my pregnancy? It is beginning to freak me out’.

@lookingforadvice123 LOL dont be envious before i fell pregnant my plan was to try and lose another 2 stone so i have some cushion for baby to hide behind hahahahah
I hope i can still work out at 38 weeks!! not long till your baby will be here though!!

@bambamber and @Returningtothesceneofthecrime hahahah i love both responses playing into being sarcastic and cheeky would defo shut her up. In fact the look on her face would be priceless.

I just hate judgey people, like judge me quietly if you must please.

I’m 33 weeks and just back from spin and swim! I do around 3 spin classes a week, plus preg yoga and preg pilates (I’m not amazing at yoga so happier doing this than trying to modify normal yoga and getting it wrong). I find it helps with stress and I want to be fit and strong for the birth!

I do get people concern trolling about exercise (esp DP’s mum but to be fair my mum has questioned it too) but you just have to listen to your body - I’m obviously not spinning like I did without a large bump and if I’m knackered I will skip a session.

The only thing I’d say is that you shouldn’t be doing abs stuff if you are, or I think there are some abs exercises that are okay, but crunches etc are out so I would research that. I do one spin/circuits class a week and I just substitute in extra squats, punching weights etc when I need to.

Oh and your colleague is a twat!

I wonder where she got her doctorate from?

I worked out loads before pregnancy (3 crossfit, circuits, yoga and walking etc a week) and with the exception of feeling hideous right at the beginning where I did very little I soon found a rhythm I felt safe with from 14 weeks.

I continued with one crossfit a week right up to about 30 weeks, very focused on form and reducing weights steadily, coach very observant.
Pregnancy yoga from 26-33 weeks
Lots of walking, ideally at least 10'000 steps a day but often more.
Last circuits was at 37 weeks but I had stopped weights and mostly went to go through the movements and keep sane.

Currently 9 days overdue but comfortably walked 3 miles and feel strong. Have slept at least 8 hours a night and had minimal pain throughout.

Listen to your body, do not pressure yourself, if it feels good go for it.

Your colleague needs to mind her own business! She’s talking rubbish too! I was even in the gym when I went into labour with my 9lb baby and could not advocate an active pregnancy more. I ended up having a c section but my recovery was super easy and five months on I’m running half marathon distance, training in the gym, cycling, swimming etc. With no problems. I put on about a stone and a half in total but I’d only put on about half a stone until 26 or so weeks.

How rude! She deffo needs putting back in her place - she just sounds malicious. I have a VERY new colleague who, on her first day, told my line manager that she didn't think I should be working anymore (desk based job, 32 weeks at time), and has since been canvassing the opinions of other colleagues as I found out today - am fuming. And she doesn't even know that I still ride my horse, so God knows what she'd make of that! So tempting to drop that little nugget of information into conversation ...

I had a chat with her last night at the end of our shift. As usual i went and put my gym stuff on as i go to gym straight from work and she asked if i was "going to the gym AGAAAAAIN" roll eyes and commented she thought id been enough this week.

I just asked very nicely what her issue was with my exercising and asked her why she kept making a big deal about it. I told her it was keeping me happy and healthy and i had no intention of stopping until my body said otherwise. She said she was just thinking of me and the baby. i explained to her that all she was doing was making me feel uncomfortable discussing it in a negative light and said it was actually good for me and the baby. she started getting a wee bit nippy and i just said that i didnt want to hear any more about it.

Im not very good at confrontation so i felt quite good after it.

Then i went to body attack happy as a pig in shit :)

Thanks everyone

Well done Coco!

Do exercise but really wouldn't recommend carrying on with any weights/weight machines that put pressure on your core after say 30 weeks.

I thought of you today @cocodash. Not I was listening to the food medic podcast about prenatal/postnatal nutrition and exercise and it's worth a listen to get some advice about what to continue with and what to limit. It's season 2, episode 6 if you're looking for it.

@jokie what were you listening to? It sounds interesting

It's a podcast from someone called "food medic" and she had 2 women on discussing pre and postnatal nutrition and exercise. Hopefully this link works! thefoodmedic.co.uk/the-podcast/season-2/

Then go to episode 6.

Good on you for continuing to exercise, i wish i had been able to. It's a great release of good endorphins.

If she does it again (i suspect she will) i would email her to remind her of your conversation and then have a word with HR. Going on about this, bringing in other people, all smacks of making you feel small.

@cocodash how did you get on with following exercise while pregnant.
I cycle to work and back everyday not a massive distance but keeps me sane and I’ve done it for 10 years with no incidents.
I’m 6 weeks pregnant and plan on telling work after my first scan.
I work with a team of mothers who all seem to be of the opinion to eat for 2 and put your feet up. I’m ready for the questions about why I’m still exercising and won’t be Spending much time defending myself.
Just curious if things got better for you?

I agree with PPs re keeping up with exercise but some suggestions for the work situation:

• Stop giving them any information about your pregnancy, exercise regime, anything

• If they ask, say "I've got it under control." If they keep asking, repeat. You can add, "as I said, I've got it under control," or "I don't need any advice, I've got it under control." (Repeating the same phrase breaks conversational norms and makes the other person feel awkward/uncomfortable.)

• If anyone makes comments about your bump, size, figure etc, say "please don't comment on my body." If they carry on, "I've asked you not to comment on my body" and repeat. You can add, "I've asked you not to comment on my body, so you need to stop," or "I've asked you not to comment on my body, why are you continuing?"

Lol just realised this is an old post, sorry!

I swam most of the way through my first pregnancy and intend to swim.a could of times a week now I pregnant with my second. Also did pregnancy yoga.
If your midwife is happy tell your colleague to jog on you only need to eat 200 more calories in third trimester.
My friend did crossfit to quite late on un pregnancy and had a six hour labour with her first.

So cheeky of her! You are doing the right thing keeping up your exercise and you will be laying the foundations for healthy motherhood. Naturally you’ll ease up in your third trimester. Ignore her, she’s totally out of order.