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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What exercise (if any) are you doing in pregnancy?

44 replies

moomin35 · 20/12/2013 10:43

I have never done much exercise(!) and am only walking for 30 minutes most days. I am 17 weeks. Is this enough? What are you doing?

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ChicaMomma · 20/12/2013 10:53

I think that's probably enough. You could try pregnancy yoga though- or pilates- great for labour apparently!

i'm walking to work (30 mins a day) and from teh new yr will be doing prego yoga once a week and prego pilates once a week. I'm a former bootcamper and i really miss that! Walking and swimming are probably the best but as you get into your 3rd trimester do consider taking up pre natal yoga or pilates if you can.

LastOneDancing · 20/12/2013 10:58

Ive been trying to do walking and yoga. The yoga is great, I feel very relaxed by the end of it!

I have also been doing a couple of pregnancy workouts at home, off YouTube. There's lots to choose from with/without Swiss ball etc.
my current favourite

gussiegrips · 20/12/2013 11:02

pelvic floor exercises.

And, then, some pelvic floor exercises.

And, if you've time, fit in a few pelvic floor exercises.

eurochick · 20/12/2013 11:04

The recommendation is not to take up anything new, so if you hadn't done much before, sticking with walking and maybe some pregnancy toga/pilates is probably right.

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 11:13

I am 38+1 and except for when I was really really ill with HG, I have continued to excersise at the same intensity i did prior to been pregnant. I have slowed down a little since about 35/36 weeks. So my week consists of the following:

spin classes
body pump class
running on the trademill/cross trainer/step machine/bike/free weights
yoga
pilates
swimming

Pretty much what I did before. Except I don't do kettle bells anymore. Will be going back to that post birth.

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 11:14

I have invested in a personal trainer do that keeps an eye on me though..

ChicaMomma · 20/12/2013 11:15

LOL gussie.. i'm doing mine right now, thanks for the reminder!

Thanks also lastone, have emailed that link to my home email. Looks really good.

I agree about the yoga- so relaxing- i pass out cold for 8 hours after class, so even though it's not a cheap class (it's 18 eur per class in dublin, RIP OFF, probably cheaper in the UK though) it's worth every penny IMO.

LastOneDancing · 20/12/2013 11:23

Yes Chica mine is £12 for an hour or 5 classes for £50 in the midlands - shocking!
But the instructor is a midwife so we get lots of free advice and I enjoy it very much.

I'm sure it all evens out if I offset the booze that I'm not drinking this Christmas

Cariad007 · 20/12/2013 11:25

I used to do about 7 classes a week at the gym but have cut back to about 4 or 5 now - body pump twice a week, body combat and body attack (sticking to the low impact options) and pregnancy yoga. The only thing I've had to give up is spinning as I've been having tailbone pain and the seat just exacerbates it. I plan on keeping up with the exercise for as long as possible and hopefully can go back to it post birth.

Have to say though, that it's funny how people can't believe I'm still exercising. One girl at the gym said that if she was pregnant she'd just give up on exercise and eat cake and pies for 9 months!!!

redcarrot1 · 20/12/2013 11:40

erm...to balance things out I've done nothing except the odd walk here and there. Did a little turbo training but found it uncomfortable with a big bump on a small frame. I got freaked out by severe hip pain that has randomly come and gone in my 2/3rd trimester so thats my excuse!

marzipanned · 20/12/2013 11:55

LittlePeaPod I am seriously impressed. I exercised a lot before getting pregnant but HG took it out of me so much that I've never got back into it.

I'm now doing yoga once a week, the odd (very slow) swim and walks here and there, some of them up hills. :)

Most of the time I'm just happy that I feel well enough to leave the house but I really miss that achy muscle post workout feeling.

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 12:00

cariad097. I get some funny and sometimes very disapproving looks in the gym from people. One person actually asked me if I had considered that continuing as I was, would harm my unborn baby.

The funniest looks come from people that have been behind me when when i get off the treadmill or cross trainer. Other than a bump, I look the same as I did prior to getting pregnant. So I am still small if you saw me from behind but then I have a 38+1 week bump when I turn round.

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 12:04

Marzipanned. I only increased intensity again when I improved with the HG. But I have also suffered from insomnia and exercising has been my saviour. I have had to slow it down a bit the last few weeks though. The bump is fine but I get tired really quickly now. Are you still suffering from HG?

emmac3616 · 20/12/2013 12:10

I think the idea is you do a toned down version of whatever you were doing before. I used to run 10/15ks most days pre pregnancy and was in the gym every day doing weights etc as well. I am now 40+3 and still in the gym each day but what I am doing has got progressively less through pregnancy. People are VERY judgemental though - I get some odd looks and comments - I ran outside until 30wks and got some horrible comments from the larger members of the general public. My MW and GP have been super supportive and just told me to stop if I get any pain or discomfort and to see it as MAINTAINING rather than building fitness / strength, which has really helped with having the right mentality and being prepared to scale back as required. Basically I think it depends a lot what you were doing before - don't think this is a time to take up new activities!!! (except pelvic floors!) :-)

marzipanned · 20/12/2013 12:17

No, I don't even have that excuse! Just feel nauseous until lunchtime and then fine in the afternoons and evenings. I'm not surprised you get tired at 38 weeks! I am only 33+3 and get tired doing the most pathetically low intensity things - though probably that's because my body isn't used to it any more. I am (optimistically?) planning on lots of hill walking with baby in ergo once she arrives.

Ridiculous that those of you who are exercising well are getting judged for it - there have been studies in the news even recently that mothers exercising during pregnancy is good for babies' CV systems and brains..

Cariad007 · 20/12/2013 12:19

LittlePeaPod, so true - I don't know why people still think exercise is somehow dangerous. That's so Victorian! And there's a misconception that a bit of jumping around will somehow cause harm to the baby, when in truth the baby is pretty secure in there! What people don't realise is that the most important thing is making sure you don't overheat, especially in the first trimester, as this is what can cause harm. And you shouldn't take up exercise you haven't done before - I certainly wouldn't start running as I've never liked it! But of course when you're pregnant everyone else is an expert on everything and assumes you know nothing!

ladylashes · 20/12/2013 12:54

LastOneDancing I've just done that youtube workout you recommended and it's FAB - thank you so much! I know there are a lot out there, but any others you'd particularly recommend? I trust your judgement!

Julietee · 20/12/2013 14:15

I've been walking about 50 mins 5 days a week on a route that includes 3 hills. I want to take up yoga too but have been crap about finding a class.

What I find is that my body randomly refuses the exercise sometimes (like, I'll get weirdly out of breath and uncomfortable, I have no idea what's going on in there to cause that. The next day it can be fine), and sometimes things are harder for no apparent reason.

Re: Jumping around - is that safe? Does anyone have any good sources they can point me to? I know it's one of the activities the books say to avoid, but being vague and condescending they don't say why (placental abruption? Or falling risk? Or actually nothing, just phony received wisdom?).

ChicaMomma · 20/12/2013 14:20

I personally wouldnt do any jumping around- i gave up bootcamp (burpees, see ya later!! haha) for that reason. I dont care if the baby is secure etc, i wouldnt risk it, not in a million! It's such a personal thing though and people will make up their own mind which they are completely entitled to do.

When i had my 12 week scan, i coughed in teh middle of it. Poor lil fetus was thrown around the uterus! cant imagine what 20 burpees would do to him!!

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 15:06

Julie. I run so i guess you could class that as jumping and eveything is ine. The best source of information on what's right or wrong is your GP, consultant or MW everything else is here say really. My consultant and MW have been very encouraging with regards my exercise but I was very active prior to getting pregnant so no shock to the system. If in doubt then consult with an instructor.

Cariad007 · 20/12/2013 16:05

Yes, by jumping around I was referring to running and things like running on the spot in an aerobics class - not burpees or super high impact stuff!

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 16:09

Cariad007 tats whati thought you meant.

LittlePeaPod · 20/12/2013 16:09

Grrr iPhone.

Julietee · 20/12/2013 16:22

Thanks!

Original poster

moomin35 · 20/12/2013 17:58

haha redcarrot1 thank god for you! I was beginning to feel really bad! You guys are soo good with your exercise, i feel really guilty now!!

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