Sport and pregnancy

[mopsytop]

Fairly general question... I started couch-5k a few weeks ago. Had done week 1, but then pulled a muscle in my neck and couldn't do it for two weeks. Started again but am now 5 weeks pregnant. Not hugely fit (hence couch-5k). Do you think it is fine to continue, just making sure I don't overheat/overdo it as it gets harder?b Also taken up swimming but I think that is fine. Thanks!

From all the research I've done the advice is in general it's ok to continue with what you were doing pre-pregnancy as long as you are sensible but ideally not to take up anything new that is highly energetic/stressful on the body.

I run 5-6 times a week normally, long distance and my MW remembered me this time from my last pregnancy as she hadn't had another "runner" since (not sure what that says about where I live although admittedly I don't know anyone else that ran through pregnancy). I'm down to twice a week now (28 weeks + 1) and no more than 5 miles per run but it's enough to keep me mentally ticking over!

So if you do continue with your c25K just take it easy, take water with you and as you say, try not to get too hot. My general rule of thumb is if I'm gasping for air when I'm running then slow it down! Oh take a phone as well just in case, I don't normally when I run but when I'm running with a BOB I like to be sensible

I loathe swimming but it is nice to take the weight off when you are heavily pregnant so thumbs up for swimming if you can stick at it.

Good luck with your c25k programme! Do you have an end goal, i.e. a parkrun, when the course has finished? I think a lot of people that do c25k now choose to do a parkrun at the end

I was going to do a 10k in September that I've done before and is very fun (I used to be a lot fitter before baby and working full time) so I thought that wd be a nice aim to keep me at it over the summer but I'll be 6 mths by then so I think not... ! I'm just worried being at beginning of C25K and not v fit at the mo, it mightn't be the most sensible to keep going but I'm so enjoying it at the same time ...

ps thanks princess!

I was running 5k regularly and then suffered from exhaustion/sickness/spd didn't get back to the gym until 23 weeks...I now just walk and am doing gentle exercise- wouldn't want to run with spd. I'm sure you can keep going but just be gentle with yourself and take it slower than recommended. Exercise has really helped me and will be good to have some fitness for birth and beyond!

Gosh no way ickle, you'd make it way worse. poor you.

Like icklekid I was running regularly (4 miles or so) pre-preg, carried on for a bit post-preg then the sickness, tiredness and general miserableness got me. And I'm getting a bit of pelvic pain when I do too much walking now. I've not tried going out for a run in a while but running for the bus etc is just unconfortable now. I'm trying to keep up a moderate amount of exercise (not always succeeding!) but am doing swimming, a bit of cycling, yoga etc, all of which I can enjoy without feeling like pregnancy is getting in the way.

If you're starting pretty much from scratch on running I'd be inclined to do something different that you have more chance of keeping up during the pregnancy and that has less chance of injury.

GP said C25k fine so long as I'm sensible and don't overdo it.

I'm 35+1 now and still running.

My advice would be to carry on but take it slowly, my general rule of thumb is if I can't talk during exercise, I'm going too hard. I have learnt that running on the flat is much easier as my sense of balance has changed so cross country running for me is now a no go area.