Could yoga/exercise cause a miscarriage at 6 weeks?

[Elastigrrrl]

Hi all.

I'm new to this forum, and totally impressed with the level of support and depth of experience you ladies offer each other. I hope I can call on that knowledge now.

A few days ago, I found out I was about six weeks pregnant for the first time. Then two days ago, I took a class similar to yoga (called Feldenkrais), which involved some gentle stretching and twisting of the trunk. That evening and for the next 30 hours or so, I experienced mild, menstrual-type cramps (but not as bad as my period). I haven't had further cramping over the last twelve hours, and there is no bleeding. I've read on these useful forums that bleeding is a surer sign of miscarriage, but that pain can be a symptom too.

I am deeply concerned that the exercise may have harmed the little bean or its housing (and of course I feel guilty for not considering it risky at the time). As with many things, the guidance I can find online is a bit ambiguous, and though the locum doc I spoke to on the phone was not worried, this is probably in part because there is nothing we could do about it at this point if it was an mc. Does anyone have knowledge or experience of stretching and twisting movements causing an mc?

Thanks so much.

No! You will not have caused any additional risk. You can do yoga throughout pregnancy and pregnancy yoga is great for helping with labour too.

I'm with outraged on this: very very unlikely. The baby at that stage is well protected within your pelvis. I think inversions in yoga are advised against during pg, but I may be wrong there. Please don't worry! The cramping may just be things stretching out - I had horrific pain in my first pg and everything was fine - just that I'm little and had never been pg before.

I too had really bad cramping in the 5th and 6th week - I asked the doctor and they said it was just everything growing and moving around and not to worry. It's really hard not to worry though isn't it!!! Perhaps ask your yoga teacher for their advice incase they recommend any modifications to any of the exercises?

Hi Op congratulations . Yoga should be fine but you need to ensure the yoga teacher is aware you are pregnant. If it helps I am 27+3 weeks pregnant and I am still exercising 4/5 times a week. The includes spinning, yoga, swimming, pilates and weights. If you do carry on exercising you will find it hard to gt appropriate gym clothes. This site has some limited but very bump/pregnancy friendly gym clothes.

www.sportybump.co.uk/

Wow, you are all stars. Thank you so much for your reassuring and encouraging messages. I will definitely take the advice to clarify with instructors etc in future what I can do.
LunaticFringe, what a logical way of looking at it!
I'll re-post if there are major developments, but I feel much reassured.
Thank you!