Exercising in early stages of pregnancy?

[Almond301]

Hi,

I found out this week that I'm 4-5 weeks pregnant! It's our first so v new to all this. I had just started training for a half marathon but now not sure what is acceptable to do? I also feel shattered and don't know whether to give in to it and rest or exercise to get a boost (this is what I'd normally do)?

Congratulations :)

The usual line about exercise in pregnancy is that it's ok to keep doing exercise that you're used to doing, within reason, but don't suddenly take up something your body isn't used to. Having said that, a half marathon is a long run. It really depends how you feel in yourself; I ran 11 miles a couple of times before I knew I was pregnant but I found it much harder than I usually would. As you say you're feeling shattered, I'd be tempted to have a rest rather than push it; your body is building a baby, that takes more energy than you might imagine.

If you do keep up the training, or pick it up again if your energy returns later on, the main things to remember are not to exhaust yourself, overheat or get dehydrated. Don't push yourself too hard. Listen to your body, and stop if you feel you're overdoing it.

Congrats!

I'm a bit of an exercise fiend outside of pregnancy, but I've all but given up to be honest (am 7 weeks). I plod on the cross-trainer every day for 30mins but my legs just feel like lead and I have no energy. I'm also not eating properly (lovely MS) which obviously isn't helping.

I second the opinion that you can do whatever you used to do before pregnancy, but listen to your body. You'll exhaust a lot quicker than normal.

Also be careful of (1) overheating, and (2) your ligaments. Pregnancy hormones can cause you to be looser than normal in your ligaments so you're more at risk of straining something/hurting yourself (eg if you lift weights).

Basically do whatever you feel comfortable with but I wouldn't try and override your body with your mind (as I often do when not pregnant to meet a certain time etc).

You could still train for the half-marathon but you might need to lessen your training schedule and accept/aim for a slower time than normal....

Hi there. Congratulations. I was running about 10miles when I fell pregnant as I was training for the London marathon.

I spoke to my doctor, and his advice was whilst there's no evidence a marathon would do any harm, both marathon and pregnancy are big stresses on the body. So unless really necessary he suggested I defer. Which I have.

To be honest, even if I had wanted to I was so tired I could never have trained properly.

Not sure if this helps, as I was looking at a full marathon, but I think the same approach applies.

Sorry, as in do what feels right. And listen to your body. If you are running lots now then your decision may be different to if you have barely started.

Do what you feel up to doing. I've stopped riding, not because of the exercise but because of the risk aspect if I fall off. I'm back at the gym this week as I finally feel like some semblance of my former self (hit 9 weeks today and Managed to stay up past 9 for the last 3 nights and haven't been sick for a week)

Congrats almond, my doc advised me not to take up anything new and don't get to the stage where I'm out of breath and drink plenty of water, sadly I've been so ill and exhausted I've had to put it on hold hoping I'll feel better in the 2nd trimester

Thanks for all the tips, it's do lovely knowing your all there to help! I've decided not to run the half marathon. Im going to try and keep up exercise but will listen to my body! Had a sleep tonight instead of running!

Agree with the whole listen to your body thing. I didn't find out I was pregnant until 8 weeks and had been in India the whole time doing hardcore yoga every day and running along the beach getting really hot - not what you should be doing! But it's all fine as far as I know. I calmed it all down when I found out and got much better at figuring out what I should and shouldn't be doing. I am 29 weeks now and still doing yoga, though going to switch to ante natal quite soon, reformer pilates and still running but only 5/6k and walking if I get a stitch. I've still got lots of energy and not had any backache, insomnia or constipation - I swear the exercise has helped with all that stuff.

I agree that a half is a big thing though so it sounds like you made the right decision - I was meant to be doing one when I would have been 15 weeks and I ditched that. Exercising in pregnancy for me is just about keeping mobile and fit for labour, rather than pushing myself to get better or hit new goals.

Congrats on your pregnancy!!

I think I'm about 10 weeks and still exercising but toned it right down, out of necessity rather than choice. I find running REALLY hard now, and that out-of-breath feeling which I used to love so much feels really uncomfortable now. Instead of hard runs, weight training, aerobics and circuit training I'm concentrating on swimming, cross-training, zumba and a bit of leisurely jogging and weight training. I'm still training 4-5 times per week and I can feel my heart getting a workout, but the impact has all but gone.

If you're used to runng and comfotable then RUN! I ran with both mine til 3 and 4 weeks (respectively) before having them and was back out thewre 5 weeks after birth. I also ran 10K and 10 mile races pregnant both times (at a reduced pace) and thouoghly enjyed it. I had really good pregnancies with hardly any 'preg symptoms' at all and only gained around a stone both times. Troule is once they are on the outside it's a bit more difficult to head off for a 6 mile off-roader :)