How much exercise are you doing?

[Penny2012]

I'm 10 weeks and so far have avoided exercise due to tiredness and not really knowing how much I can/can't do without upsetting baby? I used to be pretty full on so its difficult to know what is normal! I've just started swimming.

How far along are you and how much/what do you do?

I am an exercise freak and was told I could keep running etc whilst pregnant but not to raise heartbeat or temp too high can't remember exactly. However last July I had a miscarriage at seven weeks and I had been running and having fairly vigorous sex as normal. There are lots of bookson safe exercise but I am twenty five weeks again now and I am only swimming. Everyone says there is no research to support not exercising or having sex as normal but based on my own experience and anecdotal evidence I am choosing not to. Itmay be a whole different story for you x

I didn't manage anything in the first trimester I was SOOO tired. Then we got a puppy.... I now walk her most days for about an hour and around about 16 wks started doing pilates twice a week. There was an article in the British Medical Journal before Christmas saying that 1/2 an hour's brisk exercise in pg is good for you but it didn't say anything about what sort of exercise that I can remember! I too was reluctant to do anything too vigorous, esp in 1st trimester, post MC. After that my focus turned to exercise that would help me with the birth and which I could maintain. Am now 23 wks and a good hour to 1.5 hour walk is about my limit!!! X

Didn't do much / anything for the first 12 weeks because I was too knackered. But since then I have been doing my usual aerobics class (at around 60% of previous intensity), walking lots, doing pregnancy yoga and a pregnancy keep fit DVD. I'm 15 weeks now. Planning to do lots of swimming later in pregnancy.

My doctor encouraged me to continue exercising, but said that this was not the time to launch a brand new exercise regime. He was comfortable with me doing most exercise (eg running, my aerobics class); he just said to listen to my body and not raise my heartbeat or temperature too much. He also told me to avoid abdominal exercises, anything that might involve a fall (eg skiing!) and tennis.

I'm 37 weeks and doing very little now, other than lots of nesting housework. But, I did a Zumba class right up until I was 35 weeks (& I haven't yet ruled out going next week yet). I just made sure I was very hydrated and listened to my body, slowing down where necessary. I've not gone religiously, just taken it one class at a time, and it's been great

I only found out I was pregnant at 24 weeks and up until then had been doing gym 5 days a week, Pilates and various other classes.
I've been told as long as you don't start something new then it's fine to carry innit the problem I've been getting is overheating!
I've started prenatal yoga and I'm doing cardio in the gym 4 times a week and walk the dogs daily.

I couldn't manage much in first 16 weeks

But I had an active job where I was on my feet 8hr a day doing health walks etc
I have a dog that gets walked 2 times a day for 30 mins+
bit dissapointed at my attendance to the gym but I started swimming instead 3-4 times a week. 40+2 today and still going

I did quite a bit of exercise before I fell pg and my GP told me to take it a bit slower but, as the other posters have said, to carry on with what felt right. She said not to let my heartrate go above 140 and to stop if I started to get hot and sweaty.

She advised stopping running at 20 weeks (because of the strain on my pelvic floor muscles) and to do lower impact exercise like walking or gentle cross training. I am 28 weeks now and doing about 20 mins cross training a day (half the intensity and half the duration of my pre-pregnancy work outs) with 15 mins yoga and a bit of dog walking too.

I was pretty anxious in the first trimester and I found that exercise really helped me stay sane.

The biggest risks, as I understand it, of heavy duty exercise before your first scan are placenta previa and a short cervix but they should be able to advise you on this at / after the scan. I had my first scan at 8 weeks so knew from then that I was OK to exercise if I wanted. I'm not an expert though so this could well be wrong!

Swimming sounds great though as everything's supported by the water.

HTH

Only walking, and that's getting slower for me! 31 weeks now, and I walk about 25 minutes in the morning to work and 30 minutes in the evening to and from the train station.

I woudl like to do more, but I honestly don;'t have the energy between work and sorting out DS (4 yo). Swimming is a nice idea, and I am quite keen, but when it comes to actually doing it, I become quite lethargic all of a sudden and need to sit on the sodfa with a hot chocolate. Strange, that.

I feel I should be doing much more. Im 21weeks now. I couldnt manage a thing for the first 15 weeks or so as I just felt so rotten. Ive ordered a pregnancy yoga dvd - has anyone else tried these? Im hoping it might help me feel less achey.

I'm 25 weeks and cycle to and from work (50 mins each way) three times a week and run for 45 mins two or three times a week. Running pace has slowed down a lot though. I was lucky felt ok in my 1st trimester so carried on with my usual exercise of cycling and running more or less every day (ran a marathon at 6 weeks, although that wouldn't have been for everyone!). All the advice I've had has been to keep up your usual exercise as long as you're comfortable.

before I was PG i was running 3 times a week, cycling to and from work every day, at the gym every day and a PT session once a week, but I had a bit of a rocky start in early pregnancy, so stopped doing most of that exercise (just in case).

And since week 8 I have literally been so shattered it's all i can do to say awake during the day, let alone exercise! :o

However, over the past two weeks I have been walking to and from work (about 6 miles in total) to try and build my fitness back up before hitting the gym again.

I really want to go for a run again, but think I'll do some cross training and then maybe aim to do a little run sometime soon.

Just signed up for some swim passes, too :o

ps: congrats! :)

Not very much. I have round ligament pain and can't walk very much without pain. I do 1 hour of yoga 3-4 times per week and that is it.

Precisely none. Unless changing DS2's nappy counts as an upper body workout? Or walking to and from the car to go and eat counts as cardio vascular? (to be clear, I'm talking about eating out at a restuarant - I'm not a weirdo who must only consume food in a car!)

Although, I didn't exercise before this pregnancy and yet feel, for the first time, once this baby is born I want to put some effort in and 'get fit'.

I'm sure it'll wear off in my post-partum exhaustion glow.

I'm 33 weeks and have been swimming and doing some aqua natal excersises every week since I found out I was pg. I walk to and from train station everyday (approx 45 mins) as part of my commute. Gym ball for core strength and ome yoga stretches. When I start my Mat leave next week I've planned to start a yoga class and aqua natal class too. Just focused on maintaining stamina for labour. I do more now than pre-preg! :)

Hiya,

I did quite a lot of running (about 20 miles a week) before I got pregnant, and actually climbed Table Mountain on holiday when I was 4 weeks pregnant but didn't know it yet!
Because of my previous history (miscarriage and a couple of gynae ops) doctor advised me to stop the running but to do something lower impact instead like swimming or walking. Trying to find a good pool near me that doesn't cost a small fortune, so in the meantime haven't been doing much during the week and have been going for longish walks at the weekend. To be honest I'm so knackered right now I don't think I could do much during the week in any case!

First pregnancy (dd now 17 months) I was super fit pre- pregnancy, ran 5x week, swam, hill walking (long days with big mileage!) Stopped running at 11 weeks. I was exhausted and had very bad (medication needed) sickness but i found running I didn't pike- before- yes. As soon as I stopped, yes. While running- blissful break! It started being uncomfortable at 11 weeks though, so I moved to swimming x 3 per week, plus daily walking up to the day before dd was born.

This time I'd barely got back into it (my running and proper exercise) when i got pg again, and was even worse- hyperemesis, exhausted, found out it was twins at 12 weeks. Now 31+5 and still walking/ chasing dd is my only exercise...

Yikes, I admire all of you who keep on exercising while pregnant! I was quite fit before I got pregnant, would run at least twice a week (about 10-15 k per week), would walk to work (25 minutes, uphill all the bloody way) and back, would walk everywhere, never thought of taking a lift to upper floors in buildings.

Since I got pregnant? Well, I walked to work until I was about 25 weeks, then started taking the bus; stopped running pretty much after I found out I was pregnant as I had no energy in the first trimester, then in the second I got cold after cold + a chest infection and now in the third trimester (just turned 32 weeks today) I have been feeling properly wiped out (another 2 bouts of cold and an ear infection didn't help) and can't bear even to walk to the corner shop (absolutely no energy whatsoever). Literally on my knees counting the days to annual/maternity leave (19 March).

I am desperate to resume my running schedule afterwards though - every time I pass a jogger I wistfully sigh to myself "This used to be me!"

Have joined a local swim centre but due to working full time and being 32 weeks pregnant I can't be bothered turning up for a swim at 7am, then going back to the flat (swim centre is just around the corner), getting ready for work, having breakfast and then rushing for the bus - no energy for such malarkey anymore. Am planning to swim at a more reasonable time of 12 noon once I am on maternity leave (please let it come soon!).

I was also a runner before I was pregnant (am 28 weeks now), but stopped when I found out, a) because it was the back end of the summer and I was concerned about my temperature/heart rate etc and b) because i was so exhausted in my first trimester. I managed to go to the gym occasionally in my first trimester, and have been trying to go two to three times a week, doing exercises that I talked through with one of the trainers who specialises in ante-natal stuff. I don't always make it there at least twice a week if I'm busy or very tired though. Also try to fit in a couple of decent walks every week too.

I really miss running :(

I kept my usual exercise schedule ( i.e. every day ) throughout my entire pregnancy, adjusting the exercises as the months went by. In the first trimester nothing really changed, I just made sure I was not exhausting myself. In the second trimester I stopped doing crunches. In the third I went for power walks and did lots of swimming. Anytime I felt tired I opted for prenatal yoga. I would highly recommend Tracey Mallet's and Erin O'Brian's pregnancy DVDs.

Thanks so much to everyone contributing to this thread! It's so good to see what everyone's perspectives are and finding out what real women re doing. I don't feel so confused now! Thank you xxx

Trying to keep as normal so Pilates 3 times and gym 3 times plus walking. I was told this was fine as it is my normal routine but to lower the intensity (HR must stay below 145). With DD I stopped doing much at all an really regret that. I feel I want to be as fit as I can be for labour!

Midgetm you're so right about wanting to be fit for labour. I couldn't bear the thought of being too weak to cope. I've really reduced the amount I do and already find I am out of breath at the top of the stairs which is horrid to me. Always used to bound up 2 at a time and not even feel it. In going swimming as much as I can - about 4 times a week which is making me feel much much better and it feels safe as you're kept cool, all body and joints supported plus it's a good mix of cardio and toning. Thanks for your comments xx

I was at the gym at least 5x a week all the way through including the day before I went into labour. The DS was born and I've been about 5 times in 10 months. I really miss it and want to go back (hellishly busy at work right now, after Easter it will tail off) and be fit again before TTC %232. So exercising in of isn't just for labour - its for a good few months after too!