Any exercises to avoid in early pregnancy?

[PurpleRain25]

Hi So I just found out around 2 weeks ago that I'm pregnant. I'm only 5+5 at the moment so still very early days.

I usually go to a gym class 2-3 times a week and haven't been since I found out the news because of working late, but I'm going back this evening for the first time in 2 weeks.

Are there any exercises I should be avoiding at this really early stage? I know as you get further on there are things to avoid, not laying on your back etc. but wasn't sure about the first few weeks. The class is just all your standard stuff - squats, deadlifts, slam balls, bit of cardio, and other weight training. I'll probably take it slightly easy any way as I had been experiencing shortness of breath/dizziness over the past couple of weeks.

Any advice is appreciated!

I'm not too sure but I do know they say don't do anything you usually wouldn't so anything extra... Could you maybe speak to your instructor as they may know? I persume you havnt got a midwife yet. I use to do a class which was all sorts of stuff and you had to tell them if you was pregnant because of some of the stuff they did wasn't suitable for pregnancy. They are trained to know so I would say best thing to do is ask them? X

I think the advice is to avoid sports that can cause you to fall, as a fall can cause miscarriage.

Also probably shouldn't start new sports now, but as far as you were used to some exercises prior to getting pregnant, that should be safe to continue. Just mention it to your midwife and also your instructor, just to be in the safe side as they can advise you better that anyone else.

Tell the instructor you’re pregnant, they should know alternatives for any exercises. But the main thing is just lessen the intensity. You don’t want your heart rate soaring or becoming very out of breath. So just drop the intensity a bit, take it from 100 down to about 60-70% (another reason to tell the instructor, so they don’t yell at you for slacking!) Really listen to your body too - if something feels weird, stop. If you notice the breathlessness/dizziness coming on, stop.

Hi girls, thanks for the the replies! I think I will just send the instructor a wee message beforehand to let her know as might not get a chance to speak to her beforehand.

I did see the community midwife in at the GP's surgery last week but it was just a very quick 10 minute appointment, more just getting my details to refer me on for my booking appointment. So there wasn't much time for questions!

I think I'm just a bit nervous about exercising, although I'm sure it'll be totally fine! Thank you for the reassurance

Congratulations!! Perhaps you'd be better off not doing a class and doing some light exercise to ease back in after a few weeks off. Maybe do 20 minutes of the cross trainer on interval (you'll know the right level for your body).

The issue with group classes are they can't keep an eye on everyone so it might make you feel safer not having that worry. Or that might just be my worry lol

@PurpleRain25 Congratulations! I had the same thing and just messaged my instructor. She said i was fine to continue everything i was already doing for as long as i wanted just keep my heart rate down in spin class. I'm now 15 weeks though and have given up everything apart from pilates as i was just too tired!

@Butterflyflower1234 Thank you! I've just sent the instructor a message to tell her, and have said I'll be taking it easy. I'll use it as a bit of a tester, and if I do feel a bit dodgy might consider giving it a miss for a while! The classes can make me short of breath without being pregnant so definitely want to take it slower than usual! Lol

@mumofbun Thanks! I have to say my instructor is very good with pregnant woman as there have been a few in previous classes (heavily pregnant mind!) so when showing the exercises she always showed options for all abilities. So I think she'll keep me right! I haven't been feeling too tired but I'm sure it'll hit me like a ton of bricks in the next couple of weeks lol! Congratulations to you too

Just to add, don't forget that everything loosens up a bit during pregnancy so you're more prone to injuries, so take care with weight training, maybe reduce your weights a bit. And congratulations!