5 weeks pg and exercise

[Crazycactuslady]

I'm 5 wks pg - positive test last weekend. Our docs is really good and likes to see you for a chat straight away. I've been told I can carry on with everything I normally do...

I do an active job with a fair bit of bending and lifting, on my feet all day, bar lunch. I also mountain bike regularly. If I've worked a full shift and then cycled 10+ miles off road, my discharge is pale pink for a bit. Any other active people find this? I'm assuming is cervical irritation?

I can't comment on the discharge but I am a very active person, too. As far as I know a slightly stained discharge is very common in early pregnancy. And as long as you have no cramps or heavy bleeding it should be ok. I don't think that physical activity will have a mega I've impact if that's what you are worried about, especially so early on.
I am now 20 weeks pregnant and only stopped mountain biking a week ago as I feel that the risk is too big, but I know people who kept going for longer. I do a fair bit of hillwalking and rock climbing and I just scaled it down. I only do what feels right and when I am too out of breath I have a rest and the others have to wait for me ;-)
Hope that helps and that everything goes well for you!

Thanks @felinewoman I saw my midwife for the first time today and, despite being low risk, she told me pregnant women should not exceed 150 minutes of very gentle exercise a week and I shouldn't ride a bike I think my face said it all. There's so much evidence to show exercise in pregnancy is good! I can understand not 'overdoing it', but she reckons a gentle mountain bike will make my baby 'boil in the bag' So I went home and rode my bike 'gently'

@crazycactuslady I'd be asking her for the science behind that advice!! I'd also recommend you looking at The Pregnant Athlete - really good book IMHO.

I had a bit of brown discharge in the early weeks, it's quite common even with women who do no exercise!

I'm 30 weeks today and still cycling (town bike) and using my road bike on the turbo trainer albeit at a much lower intensity than usual. Hoping to do a 14km ride in a few weeks' time on a closed road with my DH and another friend for support - will be happy to be at the back making up the numbers but pleased to be still active!

pregnant women should not exceed 150 minutes of very gentle exercise a week

Oops, I blew that one. 4 times. I used to jog 3x/week when pg with the first 2, as well.

One time I cycled 35 miles RT to a 34 week scan (DS had funny kidneys). The consultants both congratulated me for keeping fit. Luckily my MW was a cyclist herself.

I guess you have to live with consequences so the choice is yours. PG woman always blame themselves when pregnancies seem to have problems, even though the problems are usually genetic & happened before conception (so the self-blame is wrong). The general advice about exercise is keep doing what you're already used to. Don't overheat. Keep hydrated. Don't get exhausted. Ignore well-intentioned MWs with poor advice

I think that is my fear too that if I exercise something will happen! Before getting pregnant I used to do HIIT for 1 hour 4-5 times a week and I was super super fit, however, I noticed that every time I was due on, if I did train, my period would come a few days earlier than usual, I'll have a chat with MW soon and ask because I feel it's important for mental health during pregnancy. X

I know so many women who cycled, climbed, hill walked and ran far into their pregnancies and the kids are all fine. Also, if you're fit you'll not that often reach a heart rate of 150bpm. I am cycling every day to work and back and just came back from the climbing wall. My 20 week scan was fine and every midwife I spoke to told me to just listen to my body. If it feels right it will be fine.

I'm doing running rather than cycling, but my midwife said anything I was doing before pregnancy is fine to continue doing. Just not to do anything too high intensity as they don't recommend high HR activity. I asked about weights as I also did strength training a couple of times a week pre-pregnancy but she said she couldn't advise. So sticking to cardio for now! (Although I'm assuming anything avoiding direct core work or heavy weights would be fine)

150 minutes of gentle exercise a week? I ran a marathon at 12 weeks pregnant. Day before I found out I done an 18 mile run and continued to run these distances weekly until the marathon. I ran around 50ish miles a week most weeks. Now 28 weeks & all looking good. I spoke to 2 different midwifes who advised that since my body was used to this it was fine to continue to exercise at this intensity as long as I kept hydrated, ate well and listened to my body.

Thanks ladies. I have The Pregnant Athlete on order and plan to continue riding. I regularly ride in the mountains, I'll cut down on remote rides and stick to one's with regular exit points. It's crazy, two days before I found out, I was riding World Cup tracks and jumping onto air bags - I regularly ride 3 times a week for more than two hours on technical mountain terrain. I know that's out, but I'm not good at sitting still. My job is manual too - I'm a bike mechanic so I'll cut down on lifting anything heavier than a road bike or hardtail, I guess. I did find the midwife's advice a bit frustrating after the doctor told me to carry on with everything, but cut the pace / max heart rate stuff.

Personally I wouldn't risk something like mountain biking!? Too unpredictable maybe move it to a gym

9 months of being careful/more gentle exercise is better than a lifetime of a regret

I'm much more predictable on my bike than in a gym plus, the draw of fresh air, sunlight and the ability to destress with good views. I plan to stick to well known routes in my comfort zone in sensible weather with several return points in case I feel tired. I have The option of an electric bike and a turbo too for when the weather is bad or I feel unable to ride outdoors. I believe advice is to continue with known sports and avoid new sports. The only gym work I have regularly undertaken is weights... I've also had way worse gym injuries as I tend to not know my comfort zone and get competitive... I am very, very aware of my limits and the risks of riding after several years of racing.

@Crazycactuslady.. all the best and good luck with your journey x

Thank you x

@loveyourself87 thank you. Good luck with yours too x