Aerobics and gym workouts during pregnancy

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Hi everyone - I know there are a few threads to be found discussing exercise and pregnancy but I'd like to start one dealing more specifically with aerobics classes at the gym.

I'm a very keen gym goer (at least I was until my energy levels completely dropped off, I'm currently 7 almost 8 weeks pg) and I'm pretty keen to stay that way throughout my pregnancy and beyond. I tend to do about 5 classes per week, mostly Body Pump and Body Attack at Virgin Active.

I've read all about the suggested modifications and I feel pretty confident in continuing but I'd love to hear from any of you who have gone through their pregnancy while continuing a reasonably strenuous gym regime.

I absolutely plan to keep myself in check and not push myself too hard - I've been doing this for years and think I've got a pretty good idea of what I can and can't do but I'd love some real advice from any other gym bunnies out there.

I continued to exercise as normal. Gym spinning and swims. Ontop of a v.active job and daily 2-3 mile dog walks. Dropped the gym n spinning from around 30 weeks and just maintained the swims n walks till dd arrived at 42+3

I kept exercising with both pregnancies - with DC1, ran on treadmill (3x per week), did weights, prenatal pilates & yoga. Kept running until 7 months then slowed down to a walk and was at the gym until the day my waters broke... With DC2 had less time (between DC1 and full time job) but kept up treadmill and weights until nearly 8 months. I think keeping fit really helped me in labour and then recovering quickly post birth (and not piling on the pounds), would definitely recommend it.

I am not a gym goer but I've carried on exercising. I run, cycle, do dynamic yoga and reformer pilates. One of my friends is 36 weeks and she is a gym lover and has carried on with everything - spin, body pump, cross trainer. Whole shebang. It's good to exercise in pregnancy I think. Though did anyone else see this daily fail article recently?!

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2139955/You-selfish-cow--One-insults-hurled-I-jogged-Im-pregnant.html

it's supposed to be good for you, so long as you do what you normally do (i.e. don't start up a brand new regime!)

Unfortunately, I've had to stop pretty much everything apart from a daily walk due to horrific morning sickness :( Even whilst I'm walking, I feel as though I want to vomit. Really really missing the gym, but no way could I do it right now.

How pg are you?

I'll get on my soapbox about exercising throughout pregnancy given every chance!!

I didn't realise I was pregnant until 22 weeks and up until then was doing bodymax, bodypump, Pilates and yoga and running and weights in the gym.

I stopped as it was too Knackering and I had issues with over heating. I am now 39+5 and I just go to the gym 4/5 times a week and yoga once and do up to an hour on a cross trainer. I've only put a stone on in weight and feel generally pretty good.

With DC2, I stopped exercising as soon as I found out at about 5 weeks, put on 4 stone and felt knackered and sluggish the whole time. I'm hoping that being fitter also makes the labour easier to handle stamina wise!

Carry on, the main guidance is make sure you don't overheat. Obviously don't work out to exhaustion either!

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to a pre-natal yoga class this evening and will be doing body pump and attack over the weekend. I can't imagine giving up exercise for any extended period and I'm planning on being in the best shape I can be when the time comes to have my baby. I'm due on Christmas day (yikes) so there's plenty of time to get ready :)

itdoesnthurttohavemanners - I hope your morning sickness lets up and you can get back into it soon!

I was very active for most of my pregnancy.

In my first trimester I did Zumba, Step, and a number of other aerobic classes.. usually about 3-5 hours per week excluding walking. The only thing I had to drop was Power Plates as they specifically state it is not suitable for pregnancy. I always informed the instructor and took advice on modifications.

By about 4 months, I felt the advanced Zumba was a bit too much for me (all that jumping and spinning) so I switched to beginners. I carried on with everything else I was doing

As I neared the end of my 2nd trimester I felt the need to slow down a bit more so I dropped the higher impact classes in favour of aqua aerobics, more walking, and pre-natal pilates.

I gradually phased out classes when the time felt right. I carried on with pre-natal pilates until 2 weeks before my due date (when I went on mat leave and class was too far away) and walked a great deal right up until 42 weeks when I went to the hospital to be induced and DD was born by EMCS 3 days later, too big to be born naturally (but I suffered hardly any pain at all, in case 3 days of labour sounds terrible! it wasn't!)

She was born at 4.46am and I was back on my feet by noon. I recovered extremely fast and everyone was amazed at how mobile I was... and I never really felt any pain or discomfort.

I can't be sure but I think my fitness levels had something to do with my quick recovery.

So I say go for it... listen to your body and don't push yourself too hard, but I'm a total believer in exercising in pregnancy.