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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Staying fit

13 replies

AmandaNicole · 12/05/2018 10:45

I’ve just recently had my BFP, so haven’t seen my GP yet. I’m at 5wks now.

I belong to F45 (HIIT training) and have been going 5-6 classes a week before getting pregnant. But I’m not sure what to do now. Is it early enough that I can carry on as I was? Should I start modifying exercises already? Or keeping my heart rate lower?

I don’t really want the first people I tell the good news (other than my hubby!) to be the trainers at the gym, but when do I tell them?

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MrsRawlo · 12/05/2018 12:45

You should be fine to keep doing what you are doing. Just avoid getting completely out of breath - take a bit more rest and stay hydrated. Your body got pregnant while you were training so unless you have been advised not to exercise you shouldn’t have to change anything. I currently CrossFit 3 times a week and am 32 weeks pregnant - was still doing 4-5 times a week for the first 16 weeks. As I got further into my pregnancy I have reduced weights gradually, stopped certain ab movements as belly felt uncomfortable and now have stopped explosive movements (box jumps) - but have kept doing everything else. Listen to your body, if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. I had one midwife tell me keep doing training and then another tell me I had to reduce massively and I should just relax. I know and trust my body, do is what felt right. Plus if like me you enjoy training, it really helps to keep me sane. Pregnancy is a long road.

MrsRawlo · 12/05/2018 12:48

Oh and congratulations 😊

TinyTerror1 · 12/05/2018 12:49

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I was told by my midwife to keep my heart rate below 140. I don't know if that's standard advice or varies by age (I'm 40).

My pregnancy encyclopedia says if you are fit then you can continue high impact exercise that you already do regularly but reduce the level of intensity (it only lists dancing and running specifically. For gym work it says to exercise at moderate intensity).

Nothisispatrick · 12/05/2018 12:55

You honestly may not feel like doing it once some symptoms kick in (if they do, you might be lucky!). I used to do body pump regularly but I haven't since I was about 5 weeks along (now 19), I think i would have fainted if I'd tried, I felt so ill, dizzy and tired 10 weeks straight. I now do yoga two or three times a week and try to swim once a week.

Girlwiththearabstrap · 12/05/2018 13:04

Congrats! During the first trimester you should be fine to carry on as normal. You do need to be careful with ab work in late second and third trimester. Just listen to your body. I did Metafit until 30 odd weeks and am still doing body pump and circuits at 41 weeks. So there really is no need to "slow down" unless you want to or feel like it.

Original poster

AmandaNicole · 12/05/2018 13:34

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel so much more comfortable! I’m hoping I can continue as long as possible, just to stay sane! 💪🏻

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MouseLove · 12/05/2018 13:50

I would personally calm down a little, keep heart rate lower and don't do anything that makes you excessively sweat. No jumping too as your muscles will start moving and changing soon.

Unfortunately I had a mmc at 10 weeks last February and I am pregnant again (first baby) and have gone completely gym free, I am walking as much as I can, but for me I don't want to give myself another guilt reason should things not go to plan.

That's not to say that you should stop and please don't take this as scaremongering. It's such a special gift, I want you to be fully aware of the strain you might be under once your pregnancy becomes more established. With possible sickness, sore breasts, and extreme tiredness (boy am I struggling with that one)

Good luck and congratulations. X

BlueBug45 · 12/05/2018 14:46

The advice I got was to avoid jumping as you risk injury due to your ligaments relaxing, so Body Pump is fine but if you do HIIT cardio it won't be.

Anyway lots of women feel tired during the first trimester so have to slow down and do less anyway.

Girlwiththearabstrap · 12/05/2018 17:20

@MouseLove I'm sorry for your loss but your post really does read as scaremongering. I've exercised throughout 3 pregnancies. One ended in miscarriage. One is my 3 year old. One is currently 40+3. There is no reason to go gym free, not sweat, or lower your heart rate if you are feeling well and exercise isn't contraindicated by a health professional.

Sorry, it's just something I feel strongly about - the gym has been so good for me physically and mentally and I think it's a shame when people stop doing an activity that they enjoy and feel up to.

randomsabreuse · 12/05/2018 17:24

I was determined to keep running a long way through pregnancy- did a 9 mile run at 5 weeks, but then hit a wall of ongoing lurgies (have a 2 year old) and have been exhausted since. Nearing 12 weeks and finally feeling human again!

ND348 · 12/05/2018 19:13

I would tell your instructors, I know they are probably not friends or family but they are professionals. I told my yoga teacher and she was great, told me what to avoid in class (too many rotations or anything that would raise my blood pressure for an extended period like a long plank hold) also said she would give me a nod on when to do anything different until I was telling people and she could make it obvious! Also means that she's not pushing me too hard when I do need a break.
Generally her advice and that of my midwife was to keep doing anything you are already doing but not to up the intensity of anything and just to listen to my body. I've read that HIIT isn't recommended possibly because of the impact and higher risk of dehydration. I explicitly asked my midwife about the 140 bpm as id read it somewhere, she said ignore that as you should be raising your HR to get any benefit out of exercising and you need to be fit to give birth! I am low risk and healthy BMI don't know of advice would be different if I wasn't.
I summary, keep exercising, adjust as and when you feel you need to and don't over do it, but if you feel comfortable you should be fine. Enjoy your pregnancy! X

MouseLove · 13/05/2018 21:20

@Girlwiththearabstrap I should add, going gym free was a personal choice for me after struggling with infertility and a mmc, it's been a very long time for me to get to this position and I do not want to take any risks at all. It's not worth it for me. Xx

Notnottrying · 05/09/2020 06:58

@AmandaNicole

I’ve just recently had my BFP, so haven’t seen my GP yet. I’m at 5wks now.

I don’t really want the first people I tell the good news (other than my hubby!) to be the trainers at the gym, but when do I tell them?

@AmandaNicole @MrsRawlo Hi both. Appreciate it was a while ago since this post but it came up when I was googling!

I've also just had my BFP and was wondering if I can continue exercising.

I also love F45 and have been going around 4 times a week for the past couple of years. I am quite competitive (with myself) on the lion heart and heart rate will usually be at 90-100% which for me is the normal.

Just wondering how your journey went? Did you continue as usual or with modifications / keeping heart rate lower. Like you it also feels too soon to tell trainer!

Any advise would be appreciated! Thanks

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