Exercising while pregnant

[charlotteryder]

Hello everybody,

I am due in December, I took it easy for the first trimester, but now eager to go back to my exercise routine, any advice on what I should and should not do?

Thanks in advance,

Charlotte.

Join a babyfit class, these are nationwide. That is how i met my new mum friends.

This is the website www.babyfituk.com though i cant get it to work this morning...

xx

Hi Charlotteryder

I've only recently found out I'm pregnant but have been doing lots of reading on exercise as I'm a keen runner. Apparently as long as you don't take up any new exercises, you can pretty much stick with your normal routine as long as you feel comfortable, alhough should decrease weights and cut down time/intensity a little. I know my aerobics class teacher is 6 mths pg and still taking the class!! Exercises to be avoided are things you can fall from or lose balance- e.g. skiing (as if!), tennis, etc. Exercises that are good in pg are meant to be swimming, yoga, pilates, walking etc.

I got a lot of useful info from the BBC site, so that might help!

Cycling on exercise bike also good. I managed it up until the day i gave birth last time (not had the energy lately this time ).

Have you seen this new website, stumble upon it by chance, looks cool, found a couple of interesting pieces there about exercise during pregnancy

www.babyfy.com/index.php/features/2881/Melinda-Nicci/Top-tips-for-exercising-during-pregnancy /

blog.babyfy.com/2007/07/11/walking-to-stay-fit-and-lose-weight/

I exercised a lot before I was pregnant. I had to stop for the first 20 or so weeks as I felt so awful. I have given up my gym membership but have started to walk each day for 40 minutes and tomorrow I am going to start a yoga class. I am worried that I am not doing enough though.

Can you ask a trainer at your gym? I had a session with one to re-tailor my routine now that I'm pregnant. I was surprised at the extent of what I still can do (weights, resistance, core excercises). This will, of course, change with each trimenster.

I had to leave my gym. I was really ill for weeks and I was paying a fortune for nothing. I also knew that I wouldn't be able to afford it once the baby arrived so I don't have access to a trainer anymore.

I wasn't able to keep up with any exercise at the start so I am glad that I am at least getting my daily walk now. I just hope I can keep myself reasonably fit.

I would really love to do some proper pregnancy yoga but the classes are so expensive! Nice births/pregnancy's are for rich people I guess.

i had a reassessment at the gym too and it was useful. i think the weights that i am doing are pretty heavy though but i need to strengthen up a bit while i can.
currently i am trying to go as often as i can but i have a feeling that i won't be able to maintain this intensity for the whole pregnancy.

Do any of you do or know anyone who does Jazzercise? I absolutely love it and do it twice a week. Just found out last night that I am pg so need to know if it'll be okay to continue with Jazzercise.

Also - is it okay to do sit ups when pg?

charlottery - I ran the marathon when pregnant this year! Didnt knwo though..but have been told to keep doing anything your body is used to, but dont start anything new that is too energetic? I have stopped runnng as i dont feel comfortable with it, but I am using the cross trainer and walking briskly on an incline. I have also had a routine worked out for me by an instructor at the gym.
Littlemissturquise - I was told you can do sort of sit ups, but lie on your side and pull your knees up to your chest that way?
Stefka - you can get prgnancy yoga DVD's, might be worth a try x
Happy exercising!
xx

Hi Littlemissturquoise!

I'm still keeping up with the jazz dance classes that I do at Pineapple in London. The teacher told me to steer clear of the hardcore stomach exercises and I have to keep my legs close to the floor during the ballet balance warm-up. But apart from that - I'm still dancing away

swimming, pilates. congrats btw

Charlotte

I am 35 weeks, due end of Sept and apart from feeling awful at for the first 14 weeks i have excercised all the way through. Took advice from my trainer (who trains pregnant women) and this is what she said

• everything is fine apart from where you might fall over (skiing, horse riding - the obvious)
• don't overheat so try and keep your heart rate at a max of 70/80% and not push it like you may normally do
• you will get hormone surges which loosen your ligaments. Listen to your body and if it hurts then stop. You may be able to take that excercise back up again in a couple of weeks.- careful on stretching as you will be looser so may over do it
• don't lift weights above your head just in case
• you shouldn't lie on your back as it squashes the large vein which cuts blood to the placenta but you will be able to tell this as you will feel breathless, so if you still feel fine then it is ok for short periods.

If it is of any use what happened to me was that I used to run a lot and the hormones meant the tops of my legs started hurting about 20 weeks. i stopped and used the cross trainer for 6 weeks, then ran again for about 5 weeks and am now back to the cross trainer, swimming and pilates.

Hope this helps and congrats!

Hello ladies! I'm due end of Feb and was diasgnosed with SPD last month.

I had my last exercise jaunt at the beinning of September with a 15mile cycle trip (split in two journeys) after which the onset of agony prevailed!

Having been an avid gym member prior (cancelled now) and keen cyclist, no less than 30miles per week up to August this year, I am now totally frustrated with the lack of options available for doing some burning exercising!

Swimming as attractive as it seems presents a challenge for getting in and out of the pool. Apart from really cutting back to eating bare minimums is there any other suggestions out there??

I keep cals down quite strictly so at 20wks weight gain has remained beneath a stone for now JJx