running/jogging in pregnancy

[heidihole]

I am 5 weeks pregnant and have carried on my normal running regime so far.

I run 4.5 km on the treadmill, 5 mornings a week. It takes me a nice and lazy 25 minutes. I'm not over exerting, I sweat but am not panting like a crazed women. Everything I've read on Google suggests that it is OK to carry this on.

Last night and today I've been spotting. Last night was some bright red blood when I wiped, and today was dark brown when I wiped. I think it's stopped now. No cramping.

DH is making concerned noises about maybe I should stop running. I don't want to because a) I enjoy it and b) I put on a shit load of weight last pregnancy and don't want to this time! (BMI is 'overweight' already)

I'm OK to carry on running aren't I? Aren't I?!

They say you can carry on with your normal exercise routine when preg but as you are spotting I would speak to your gp or midwife.

They do say that if you are going to miscarry then bed rest etc won't make a difference. But I would seek medical advice.

It shouldn't make a difference and lots of women bleed in early pregnancy and go on to have normal pregnancies and healthy babies but I think its worth seeking reassurance.

Congratulations and good luck xx

I had some early spotting and cramping and kept running until 36 weeks, cleared by my OB...

BUT I'd recommend waiting until you you've seen a doctor to keep running after spotting. While it can be totally harmless, it can also be a sign of issues that are worsened by high impact exercise, such as certain placental problems. Also if anything were to happen to the pregnancy at this point, you'll feel guilty enough as it is (even if it's totally irrational), and it would be horrible to have you or DH looking back at the running and thinking 'what if?'. There are plenty of alternatives for a few weeks, like swimming or the bike.

All this is very small odds, though - and in the meantime I hope that all goes well and you have lots of fun being active in whatever way you choose!

Hello there.. what about swapping for a fast swim ??? Can still get the cardio benefit and great for breathing/relaxing too.

I spoke to my doctor about this as I enjoy running/ jogging too- she said that exercise is fine but nothing too strenuous as it could damage joints etc. She didn't mention anything about harm to embryo, more to myself. I would contact gp for peace of mind.

I think you'd be better off walking - there's evidence that running increases your miscarriage risk in early pregnancy.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7014828.stm

I had spotting/bleeding and was shown on ultrasound that it was where the placenta was trying to form. I was told to take it easy as essentially it was like two pieces of velcro trying to come together and undue friction would not help things. If I were you I would pick it up a bit further along in your pregnancy when the spotting has stopped.

Cycling might be a good alternative.

I did a lot of reading up on exercise in pregnancy. I read drop your intensity level to 70% of what you would do normally and don't take your heart rate over 150 bpm.

I stopped running - but only because its the thing that I used to really push myself at - and my heart rate definitely shot over 150 easily. Different people with different fitness levels & exercise preferences etc will be different obviously.

I kept doing circuit training so far and I'm 23 weeks. It's definitely harder though and I do have to take it easy.

Do a load of reading up - there's loads of info available. Lots of people have raised eyebrows at me or asked me if I should stop, but I've been really sensible and exercising makes me feel better so I figured I'll carry on doing whatever I can as long as I can.

I kept doing chooses three times a week until 28 Weeks when I got terrible stomach cramp and decided it was time to stop...you need to listen to your body. I now just got to an aqua aerobics class twice a week and maybe swim twice. I think running is probably a bad idea.

Classes obviously!