Pregnancy and exercise (specifically keep fit)

[Miaou]

I'm not pg yet, but planning to be soon ... so can I still do aerobics (eg like Davina?). There are a few of us ttc so it would be good to know our options.

I think you shouldn't do any exercise that isn't part of your normal routine in the first trimester - so starting something really vigorous when you're ttc might not be such a good idea (I'm assuming you'll fall pg straight away )

Swimming or even cycling rather than running or aerobics I'd suggest...

usually you can do aerobics but stick to low impact, if a risk of misscarriage wait till after 12 weeks, a woman at our gym was running on the treadmill at 35 weeks, a little obsessive i thought. yoga is good in pregnancy too,but tell the tutor you are prtegnant, same with pilates, they will give you slightly diff exercises if they know you are preg.

forgot to mention, dont start a NEW programme of exercise when preg, only do what you were doing before, and listen to your body.

thanks chaps - we do exercise to a video, so haven't got a tutor to watch what we're doing! Good to know our options though

My GP told me not to do anything which would "trampoline the womb", so no running or anything bouncy. Also, the gym wouldn't let me do any weights above my head (I think they put pressure on your abs). It meant that my fitness routine in the gym was watered down to some brisk walking on the treadmill and a few easy weights - very boring!

I still swear by the cindy crawford 'next challenge' workout. old but great, and works everything out. However, now I'm preg I modify the moves, don't let feet leave floor during the aerobics bits and only do 10 of the sit ups (mainly the ones that help your back). You use weeny hand weights that tone but definitely don't strain. and stretching section is good.

stick with whatever you are doing prepregnancy and just listen to your body - mine def told me when i'd done too much - either at the time or by sheer exhaustion afterwards. never exercise to exhaustion or in v warm conditions and drink plently of water. ive run, gone to gym, cycled, done aerobics, spinning, pilates thru all 4 pgs, all with no problems - last few weeks this gets dropped to dog walking and swimming then i pick up again after 6 weeks and soon get prepreg fitness levels back - i had a baby 13 weeks ago and on course for a 10k race mid may

The other important advice I was given was never to let your heart rate get above 140. Mind you, after a few weeks, my bust was so sore that I couldn't have run to that level even if I'd wanted to...

I was reasonably unfit (no exercise for 6 months) but started running again in the 2nd trimester. OB said to keep my HR below 150, but otherwise do what I liked.

Like you I'm not pg yet but ttc and also doing Davina! I bought a book called Pregnancy Fitness by Ginny Graves off Amazon. It goes through detailed guidance for cv and weights work for each trimester and tells you the kinds of sports to do/not do at various stages.