Yet another Zumba thread, apologies in advance, but help!

[Overlovedbyfrantickitty]

I'm all confused about Zumba and completely undecided about whether to keep it up or not, any advice really appreciated!

I'm 9 weeks, and before I was pregnant I was doing around 8 hours of classes a week - body combat, belly dancing, zumba and dance aerobics. I haven't felt like combat for weeks now so haven't been going and I've scaled back everything else, and am currently going to about four classes a week, including two zumba.

I'd been working on the advice that anything I was doing before I should be ok doing now, and I asked my doctor at my 6 week appointment about exercise and he said it was all fine as long as I felt fine and wasn't doing anything dangerous. I also googled it and found loads out there saying it was fine.

At the class I've just been to, though, the instructor (who I told I was pregnant last week) told me that she'd heard that the official Zumba advice was not to do it since there might be a problem with the twisting affecting your womb or something, but it hasn't been proven so it's up to me if I want to take that advice or not. I did do the class but thought about it all the way through.

It did worry me and I came home and looked on the internet again, and this time found loads of negative stuff! I don't want to give up two of my remaining four hours of exercise as I get so unfit very quickly, but I don't want to hurt myself or my baby. I know I could be doing swimming, but I'm a terrible swimmer so it won't do me much good! I have an appointment to get my blood taken tomorrow so will ask the nurse then, but I think even if she said it was fine I would still worry and also, I'd feel a bit judged going back if the instructor has told me it can be risky (which is probably completely irrational)!

I'm not normally the kind of person to worry over little things but I'm torn, what do I do?

(ps, sorry this is so long!)

My zumba instructor told me there was nothing contra-indicative about zumba in pregnancy, and I'm still going at 17 weeks,plan to keep going all the way through, just scaling back where I need to. She said it was helpful as kept the pelvis and lower back supple and flexible.

I work in a health clinic where we hold Zumba classes - I'm 32 weeks and have done it right through my pregnancy - although some weeks just do less jumping & do a lower impact version. My Instructor taught 8 classes a week during both her pregnancies right up until the last week.
I think we just need to just listen to our bodies with things like this. If your low risk & feel well during & after your class I don't think there is anything wrong.

I did it right up until 36 weeks with no problems except I had to sit one song out once (although that was more because I hadn't eaten very much that day I think). I just did what I could, stopped short of getting sweaty and out of breath etc. it was great and I believe it's helped me have a healthier pregnancy this time. The most important bits are to keep hydrated, do what you feel comfortable with, and slow down when you need to.

I did it until 36 weeks too, towards the end I was doing low impact and adapting the moves so it was less twisty (It's bloody impossible to shake your booty properly with a huge bump anyway).

You need to be the judge, you know what works for your body. Don't push it if it feels wrong. I loved doing Zumba and I'm sure this baby will come out wiggling away to a Reggaeton track

Thanks everyone, that's put my mind at ease! I think the problem is that I feel totally fine to do it and don't want to give it up unnecessarily, but don't know whether it's worth the risk (if the risk is real at all). Also, probably completely irrationally, I worry that the people at the gym will think I'm a terrible person if I've been warned of the risks and gone ahead anyway...

I don't know about zumba but I do quite hardcore yoga and they say in that to avoid deep twists. I am only 11 weeks but am still doing my normal classes, just taking it a bit easy. Still standing on my head though! I am also running still, but only 3 or 4 miles and if I feel out of breath I walk for a bit. Would never normally do that!
I think that if you are fit, then pregnancy will be easier and better for the baby. I don't know if that is right but I hope it is.
So I would stick with the zumba.

Another Zumba Intructor here, still going at 33.5wks.

Is your Zumba Instructor a qualified fitness instructor?

Because they dont have to be. [bugbear emoticon]

This may be why she is reluctant to have you do it - a trained instructor studies what to do/not do with pregnant women. She may not feel confident?

Jambalaya I think actually she is qualified, and she teaches body combat too and is qualified for that so should know what to do with me, she didn't tell me not to come just told me what she'd heard and said she thought I should know that there was the possibility of it being dangerous. Good to know that you think it's fine though! How do you modify it? I guess when there's any twisting just keep my hips straight?

If you're a low risk PG, and without injury there's no reason any of it should cause harm.

As with all exercise you should try and keep your spine neutral, and your shoulders relaxed too. Avoid any 'whipping' or 'snapping' movements (difficult with Zumba!) and you should be fine.

As said above, be aware of your body and if something hurts stop, now is not the time to be pushing those pain barriers.

Oh, and drink lots! It's very easy for PG women to overheat, and in a studio environment it could happen in seconds.

Exercise has such a positive impact on labour and recovery, it's do worth sticking with it for as long as you can!

That was a bit of a lecture SORRY!