How much exercise are you doing ?

[daisygatsby]

I know there was a thread here recently for those who wanted to keep active during pregnancy but think it may have dropped off the first page.

Im 20 weeks and was a regular gym go-er before i got pregnant. I really wanted to keep active throughout pregnancy this time round as I didnt at all last time. But after a week of doing nothing last week, I tried to get back on the treadmill yesterday and found I couldnt manage to run and just did some power walking instead.

I've walked over 20k this week so far , and I m happy with that, but disappointed that I havent been able to keep doing anything more energetic than that.

How much are you doing and are you happy with it?

[Monka]

Before I got pregnant I used to run. I did the GNR last Sept and got pregnant in Nov. I had loads of energy in the first trimester and had to give up exercise because I was losing a couple of pounds due to nausea so didnt want to lose any as a result of exercise.

In my second trimester I felt lightheaded and dizzy all the time so couldn't even manage walking during my lunch breaks.

I am now 30 weeks and haven't done any form of exercise except housework so I am a little active at least. I haven't actually put on much either. I lost 2 pounds in my first trimester going down to 8 stone and now weigh 9 stone 4 pounds. I try and eat nutritionally rich food and have been lucky in that the baby hasn't shared my sugar addiction that I had pre pregnancy. I don't eat many sweets or chocolate at all. I do eat popcorn and count my calories to make sure I am eating at least 2300 calories a day because again pre pregnancy I wasn't eating 2000 calories a day because I never really needed to and I am fairly short.

I do miss my daily lunchtime walks and the running and am going to set myself the challenge of running another half a marathon so when I do have the baby I have a fitness level to aspire to again.

Well done to all those ladies who are managing to exercise the benefits to you and baby now and during labour will be their own reward!

[Frogcatcher]

Oooh JonesH I've just discovered those & have been trying to snack on them at work instead of chocolate. Baby wants chocolate more though !

[JonesH]

I used to do 10K runs and to train I was just running up and down around my area, quite good roads, different levels so I was able to practice running on different gradients. I would constantly be drinking water trying to stay hydrated, I made sure I was eating these health bars as they are good for doing exercise no hidden nasties. But recently not been feeling confident to go do a lot of exercise, so just try walking as much as possible, stay eating healthy. Nothing too active!

[VinegarDrinker]

I'm 35 weeks and cycling to work (12 miles a day) and locally to shops, nursery etc with my DS on his seat, I have a fairly upright bike and have put my handlebars up.

I actually feel much better now than I did early on. Between weeks 8 and 15 I could barely move off the sofa.

We don't have a car and I am much more comfortable cycling than walking, so plan to keep going til I go into labour.

Still put on 15kg though!

[fl0b0t]

To add to the above- during weeks 7-15 or something I was laid very low with nausea and vomiting so barely did anything, so I'm appreciating my health and ability to do things when I can!

[fl0b0t]

I think you've just got to try to maintain some fitness and accept there's some things you might not be able to do. I manage about 30-50 miles a week walking and cycling. Just 24 weeks pregnant now, and have beeen advised to stop cycling around 24 week mark- however, I plan to continue with it until I am not happy and comfortable any more. Most people wouldn't do half the things I choose to do whilst not pregnant, so I can't imagine that everyone would approve of my choices during pregnancy!

I start pregnancy yoga next week and do a bit of swimming too. I just don't want to be the "haha I'm eating for two LOL" woman who spends 3 years post birth crying about all the weight she can't loose.

[gourd]

I was cycling in Majorca at 21 weeks and in the sierra nevada region in mountains in Spain at 23 weeks pregnant. Up to about 30 weeks felt fine through tired due to lack of sleep, just did more flat rides in the UK as I neared 30 weeks due to weight making hills very hard work. I stopped cycling to work and at weekends at 32 weeks due to getting pain in bump during cycling - possible it was a trapped nerve as I was in low-ish position on road bike. I think if I'd had a more upright town bike available I could have carried on doing flat weekend rides (but not cycling home from work as we live at top of 3 mile long hill) till later on.

There's nothing to stop you exercising at any point - you just do what you can at the time and listen to your body. I read a great book about weight and strength training during pregnancy which basically said all fine, carry on as normal and pay particular attention to core and abdominal muscles, back and pelvis and adapt your routines wherever needed as you get further into pregnancy. Obviously this applies to people who are regulars to exercise. You do not take it up for the first time in pregnancy! You can only ever do what you can do if you see what I mean, as you get heavier and more breathless you naturally find you cant do the same amount/same exercises but you adapt them to suit your ability at the time. You cant do exercises that require you to lie flat on your back but you may well be able to adapt your usual routines doing some exercises sitting down, or lying on side, or standing. I'd suggest seeing a professional who specialises in exercise in pregnancy if you can find one. I went to a great pregnancy masseur which helped a lot with SPD and suggested alternative positions for massage and for core stability and abdominal exercises. Cycling meant I could still get about whereas walking really hurt so the fact I could cycle was a big plus! I also never stopped doing press ups (full ones) or the ?Plank? but I did not have any great degree of separation of stomach muscles (but you do need to watch and check for this) so was OK to carry on doing these right up to the day before i gave birth and three weeks later I was able to start doing abdominal exercises (I do not mean sit ups - I mean the ones where you use your core muscles to realign your pelvis (my sacrum was twisted hence the SPD so had some physiotherapy then did exercises at home) and gentle exercises aimed at encouraging the abdominal muscles to knit back together - would recommend you get a good recently published book as the type of abdominal exercise is quite critical in preventing abdominal separation (do NOT stretch them and do NOT do any kind of crunches or sit ups!).

I resumed cycling three weeks after the birth and got back into it in a couple of weeks. I think cycling till as late as I could then doing a 3-4 mile walk every day till the day before I gave birth really helped keep me fit when I was unable to do all of my usual exercise and made recovery from the birth and getting back into cycling a lot easier.

[sparechange]

I had/have done pilates for a few years, so lots of them were adapted versions of things I had already done. I don't know how useful they would be if you picked them up now
The breathing things are helpful, in terms of when you breathe in and out for each exercise, but again, if you've done yoga or pilates at all, you'll probably know some of it.

The best thing was just her general reassurance that you can do some exercise, because she has a huge bump in part of it!

[HazleNutt]

Thanks for the recommendation! Did you find any exercises particularly useful? I'm now almost 37 weeks and still doing normal classes, so not sure if it even makes sense to get any special antenatal DVDs for just a couple of weeks.

[sparechange]

Hazlenutt
I bought these and they were brilliant, partly because you see the instructor in 'real time' through her own pregnancy.
I didn't follow them religiously, but when I could be bothered to do something, I found them great.

janewake.co.uk/product/jane-wake-pre-postnatal-dvd/

[Steffanoid]

I was going to the gym and swimming twice a week each, id not long started before my bfp and was not in great shape,.as soon as I hit about 5/6 weeks it all went out the window cause I had morning sickness till over 20 weeks, maybe closer to 25 and I felt rotten, from that point I started developing pgp and couldn't really do much after going from.the car to work and back at the end of the day, now.at 38 weeks my pgp is still really painful, I've got a huge baby in me and can cope with the supermarket shop before my hips give up and my feet and hands swell for a day or two, oh, me thinks I've got carpal tunnel in my hands too,
trust me your body will let you know to stop, mine sure did and now I can't wait till the baby is out of me and I can move again!

[RunningBear78]

I am now at 24+2 and am still running. I found it very difficult to do anything other than walk or yoga in the first 12 weeks, with perhaps about 2 or 3 attempts at running and a couple of swim sessions over the whole trimester. I tride to ride my bike but felt very exposed and like I wasn't paying enough attention to the roads to be safe.

Since then I've been running a couple of times a week, managing a maximum of about 45-50 minutes out on the trails and the local parkrun. Some days I feel awful and walk, but other days running feels fine. I found that running has actually helped keep my core strong and probably explains why I still have a tiny bump.

I try to do one yoga, one swim and one weights session each week, the intensity of each varies as to how i'm feeling. I suspect I may only have a few more weeks of running in me as it is starting to be hard enough work to not be fun! I'll try to replace my runs with swims.

As badguider says, i like to exercise for mental sanity primarily, but fitness, strength etc is a nice by product!

for those in the first trimester still, don't panic too much about being sedentary. get out and walk if you can, you'll find you have more energy come the second trimester when you can restart exercise again if you want to.

[badguider]

For those asking if this or that is ok - I saw an obstetric physio about something else and she was quite clear that your body will let you know what is not ok. In the absence of a condition of the cervix or problems with a low placenta, If you feel pain or discomfort or feel odd then stop that activity. If you feel fine then it will be fine was her advice.

[PolkaDotCups]

When I found out I was pregnant I was doing a lot of exercise, running a minimum of 30km a week, swimming 5 times a week and doing body pump, zumba and body combat classes every week.

Due to a previous miscarriage and haemorrhaging I was advised to immediately stop all exercise apart from gentle walking.

My weight ballooned and even though my DC is now 7 mo I've really struggled to get back into any form of exercise. Pre pregnancy I was a size 10/12 and now I'm struggling to fit into an 18. I'm not eating more, but obviously exercise (and fairly intensive at that) was what kept my weight in check.

I really regret giving up exercise so easily as I think my GP was too over cautious.

I'm determined to get back into it but it's a struggle. When (all being well) I have DC2 I won't stop exercising.

[Frogcatcher]

Anyone know anything about golf in pregnancy? I play 9 holes once a week & then try to do a range session as well. Obviously I'll have to stop when bump gets too big to be able to see/hit ball or walking round the course gets too much but just wondering whether the twisting to swing might not be great before that? Guess I just have to be careful not to pull anything. Maybe I'll ask Dr Google.

[Cazid20]

Although some people might manage it, I don't think doctor's say you should be running as far in as 20 weeks. It isn't worth the risks. I was a keen runner, but stopped at 8 weeks in my pregnancy and started pregnancy pilates course, and did lots of swimming. They might both feel quite low intensity at first if you are used to running etc. however, as you get bigger they become just right... Pilates relaxed me, and strengthened the right muscles down below!, and swimming gave me loads of energy and kept my fitness at a decent level. I looked and felt pretty good in my pregnancy, and I think it was down to exercising a lot in the build up to conception, and then swimming throughout. Good luck!

[badguider]

I'd agree that you shouldn't feel any guilt at all if you feel you need to sit down and relax more.

BUT... if you want to exercise you also shouldn't be guilted by those who accuse you of being shallow and vain. My exercising isn't at all about vanity it's about health, emotional and metal wellbeing.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Not sure I agree with the eating lots - isn't this why some women gain five stone when pregnant - because they think it an excuse to eat for about six.

[daisygatsby]

None, I am 28 weeks. I am a gym bunny usually, and do lots of exercise but during my pregnancies (this is my third) I stop completely and give my body a rest. Its working hard enough as it is growing a baby. And its the only time you can chill, eat lots and rest on the sofa without any guilt so I make the most of it. After the baby is born, I have always get right back into it by upping the exercise every week and don't think my fitness or body has suffered. Chill! X

beachesandbuckets - this is absolutely my favourite post on the thread, and just what I was hoping everyone would say when I started it!!

[badguider]

This book is worth reading if you want to continue running in pregnancy - it is possible for many people, you just have to listen to your own body.

www.amazon.co.uk/Runners-World-Guide-Running-Pregnancy/dp/1579547478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369646264&sr=8-1&keywords=runners%20world%20guide%20to%20running%20in%20pregnancy&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I have the book and although I'm not running due to feeling my alignment is out right now, I did run in the 1st trimester as it made me feel less sick and the book has info about post-natal running which I will use.

[HazleNutt]

Still (36+3) able to do most of my normal sports, so I'm planning to go to Tae Bo, dance aerobics and Bodypump this week, maybe also a spin class. Plus the usual dog walks. Bodypump is excellent during pregnancy, as there is no jumping around and the extra pregnancy weight does not affect you the same way as in cardio trainings, so I have only put less weight on the bar in the last couple of weeks. There are also special options for pregnant women to make the exercises easier and safer.

I have been trying to find some specific ante-natal exercise DVDs or videos for the last few weeks, but haven't had much luck. Of course I understand that if a woman has not done a lot of exercise before getting pregnant, she should not start challenging herself during pregnancy. But if you are used to intensive exercise, most ante-natal ones I've seen are just too gentle. Not a fan of yoga either.

[mrspaddy]

*find swimming

PS Up since 5.30 ironing before work.. does that count ?

[mrspaddy]

I am 26 weeks and swim 3-4 times per week 50 lengths of an 18 metre pool. This is enough for me. In an active job also and fins swimming relaxing. Also very warm so find walking more tiring. Started yoga but not a fan.

[SquidgyMummy]

I rode my bike (only a couple of miles along the lane) till about 8 months pregnant. Was great to be able to sit down and go faster than waddling pace when walking.