Did you exercise in pregnancy?

[Mummybear8]

If so, what exercises did you do? Do you recommend it? Would you have done things differently in hindsight?

I've just reached 24 weeks pregnant and desperately want to go for a run. Nothing too hardcore or strenuous but I enjoy running and ran all last summer before I got pregnant. I quit smoking prior to having this baby and feel like a combination of that and the growing person inside me are making me want to start being more active and healthy again, but I don't want to overdo it obviously or cause any harm.

Any advice for me? Thank you

I hope you don't mind me crashing your thread Mummybear I have just found out I'm pregnant, the test says 1-2 weeks but I was planning to start up jogging again this morning when I just decided to take a HPT, now what do I do? I do Metafit 1-2 times a week but I'm only in the early stages not super fit at all but is it safe to continue? Does anybody have some advice please?

I just did some pregnancy yoga which was good for relaxation and flexibility/ strength. I was too knackered after finishing work at the end of the day to do much more. Once on maternity leave was able to do a bit of swimming before the birth.

Yoga and swimming till the end. Cycling till 24 weeks in 2nd pregnancy. Restarted yoga at 2 weeks afterwards with both. Walked everyday (including the days I gave birth on) . 1st labour was 10 hours, second was about 3.

Did cycle until bump got so big was unstable though...

I have always been fit though (pretty pregnancy was cycling 15 miles a day + swimming and yoga or pilates.

Sakura congratulations! Ask your metafit instructor if it's ok in pregnancy and if yes, what modifications would they recommend.
As for jogging, it's generally recommended not to take up anything new when pregnant - but if you're reasonably fit then I wouldn't have problem with jogging. jogging is such a natural activity and you can always take it easy. Although personally I found that it got quite uncomfortable around 7 months, while I could still easily do body combat or dancing, all the repetitive bouncing.

Yes I did 3 aerobics workouts (YouTube) and went for a long walk the other day at 41+ weeks :) Walked 5 miles regularly, but that got boring after some months!
I just did workouts from YouTube, pregnancy yoga class (does nothing for your fitness though!), Pilates, loads of brisk walks. Should have gone swimming but didn't.

Desperate to do something more strenuous!!

I normally do a fair bit of exercise ( team sports and running and swimming) but we did ivf and I was too bloated/swollen/nervous to do anything. I also wasn't allowed to swim during Ivf. Now I'd like to start doing some exercise for my health and also to be fitter for labour/ after labour.

However, like Nottalotta I'm now exhausted! I think I'm going to try to really gentle jogging on my better days and hopefully do some swimming or Aqua fit. Annoyed that there are no antenatal classes (not even AN aquafit) at the local leisure centre.

I went swimming a lot, I loved it. The weightless feeling was lovely in the third trimester! Not sure if the exercise made any difference really, but my labour was quick... cervix was completely closed at 6am, four hours later I was 6cm dilated and rushed straight to delivery.

Thank you HazleNutt! Good idea about talking to the instructor I'll do that

I am very sporty, but I actually did very little when I was pregnant, just walking and bit of swimming. Enjoying the break from hard training, my niggles ie tight hamstrings and sore shoulder from climbing vanished. Went back into sport very steadily and was performing better than ever by the time dc2 was a year old.

It's good for you! I was told to just go and do everything I normally do and listen to my body. You're fine to do what you're used to with the following caveats.

Remember not to overheat. Keep hydrated and cool.
Remember your ligaments are looser so you're more prone to injury. Be careful with high impact / weight bearing twists etc.
Remember your balance and posture are different.
Don't redline your heart rate - dial it back a bit to avoid depriving the baby of normal blood flow
Avoid anything where there's a reasonable chance of falling/getting hit. Now is not the time for contact sparring or free climbing.

Yes, excercise is associated with shorter labours but remember that's a population level statistic. A couch potato can still have an easy labour and an athlete a hard one.

Best of all, pregnancy can improve your performance when you do get back into it! Something to do with increased cardiac efficiency or something (any physiologists around?)

I've been rather out of action what with horrible sickness the first half and now spd kicking in. I can't wait to get back out jogging :)

I weight lifted my entire pregnancy!

Was doing weighted squats in my garden whilst in early labour

Worked out with a PT and went to yoga till around 32 wks through the nausea heartburn and hip pain till my BP went crazy and I had to calm stuff down. The advice I was given is pretty simple, only do things you did before, you should be able to talk while you exercise & most importantly that exercise is GOOD in pregnancy - I recovered from the birth very quickly and I'm convinced that was due to looking after myself while pregnant. Maybe try walking before running

Thanks Skipton and Fred. Am going for. Walk tomorrow with some friends and would you believe DH is asking if that will be too much for me! Ha ha. I suppose I have just spent most of the long weekend sleep.

Looking forward to some fresh air and exercise