Exercise in pregnancy

[Bradyboo]

I just wondered who else was still exercising and what you were doing.
I am 26 weeks with number 2 and still going to the gym 4 times a week for 30minutes although have already put on 3 1/2 stone and am massive (chocolate cravings) so the gym helps me feel a little bit better and less self indulgent.

I'm swimming and trying to walk regularly, plus basic physio.

I am going to the gym regularly do yoga and some pilates, I got advise from a personal trainer who specialises in pre and pst natals training who advised a work out with light weights (not above the head) chest and back work, stretches, squats and hamstring work. I use the sitty down bikes (not the upright ones if you knwo what I mean) and the cross trainer and I go swimming. I have always been active and excercise is helping with a bout of depression I have since pregnancy also have bben told it will make the birth easier.
Also doing various pelvic floor excercises hope this helps :)

Hi Bradyboo i always exercise in my pregnancies, although with this DC3 have calmed down a lot earlier than before - I think my age might have something to do with it as am 40 now but was 30 and 33 with DS1 and DS2. Exercised pretty much right up to my due date, although obviously not as intensely towards the end - gym 2 a week and swimming 3 a week. With this one i was sharing a PT 2 a week, running 1 or 2 a week and tennis once a week. Stopped running quite early at about 12 weeks (kept peeing!!) and took up yoga. PT stopped at about 28 weeks and am now at 37+5 walking most days and doing yoga 2 a week. I want to be fit for the birth and be able to cope with whatever gets thrown at me!
Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy.

Thanks ladies pleased to hear that other people are doing a bit of gym/ weight work. Do/ did you find that it helped you to get back in shape afterwards?

Definitely! With my first pregnancy (which was 10 years ago and i was a young 30 yr old!) I gained 1 stone and had my figure back pretty much straight away. With DS 2 I gained just over a stone and was back to normal in about 4 months. I don't usually start gentle exercise again until about 8 weeks after the baby is born. I am now 40 with this pregnancy but have still only gained about 1 stone so really hope that my years of exercise, training etc. will help to get my body back. I would like to be back to normal within about 6 months.........but to be honest just want to enjoy this baby (when it comes......!)
38 weeks today!

I am swimming 3 times a week and trying to walk as much as possible.

Was running 3 times a week until about 23 weeks and then it became uncomfortable so gave it up

I was running a couple of times a week until 26 weeks. I'm now using my racing bike on a turbo trainer two or three times a week, still on my mountain bike outdoors (but no singletrack or anything technical), swimming and a bit of yoga.

I'm hoping that by the time I've recovered from the birth, we have some snow and I can get my cross-country skis out again.