Other people's attitudes towards exercise while pregnant

[bellbell123]

Hi there!
This is the first I've got to this stage (just entered the second trimester) so I'm really curious about other mums' experience of other people's attitudes towards them exercising while pregnant after they start showing.

I'm not some mad athlete but I do jog to work if it's not raining, plus a bit of swimming and gym on the side. I don't want to stop any of this unless I have to BUT -

• including prepregnancy, I have had to tolerate people either shouting stuff from cars or passersby making comments/gestures. I'm worried this will get worse. I have no idea what I'm doing to cause this but I can't change my route to somewhere quieter. I also can't always block it out if eg someone is gesturing at my chest.
• comments from people telling me that know I'm pregnant telling me I'm selfish.

Can someone tell me HONESTLY if they have experienced anything while being visibly pregnant? The midwife told me that it's really rare and to just ignore it but I don't believe it

What?! Thats so shocking.

Im 31 weeks and very obviously pregnant. I get a few funny looks at the gym. One man said to me "I bet your doctors tells you not to do that" (I was lifting weights), to which I replied "actually its ok if you were doing it beforehand".

A lot of it stems from ignorance.

@bellbell123 Ignore ignore ignore. These same individuals are probably the same ones who tell pregnant women that being pregnant means that it's the perfect time to stuff themselves with cake and 'eat what they want.' Just complete ignorance.

I had personal training from someone trained in prenatal and was lifting weights. Why in the hell WOULDN'T you be trying to make sure you were at optimal health.

i dont go running so no idea how weird people get on the roads... but at the gym all i have ever encountered (during my two pregnancies) is encouragement and compliments. (With some well--meant advice to take it easy.)

Exercising in pregnancy is great for you and the baby, and should help with labour and recovery. Why is it selfish to do what is best for you and baby?

People thought I was mad for still going and said there was no way I'd continue past 20 weeks. I did have to stop at 23 weeks though thanks to a weak cervix, was gutted as would have loved to have continued right up until DD was born. Just ignore and Carry on

I go to a bodybuilding gym and have had zero comments (currently 34 weeks pregnant) and exercise my horse 5 days a week. I have also been out cycling. But then again I've never had comments when running not pregnant ( apart from the odd one about me 'cheating' when running with the dog )

Hi OP,
I just wanted to say I can't believe that people are so rude and ignorant.
How can you possibly be selfish in keeping fit and healthy?
I thought it was perfectly fine for pregnant women to continue exercising throughout most of the pregnancy if that is their normal routine. As long as you don't push yourself beyond your limits which I'm sure you wouldn't.
As others have said, ignore it and keep on going as long as you are happy and comfortable.
I wish you all the luck in the world with your pregnancy.

I had the opposite, I was told off for not exercising while pregnant (not fat or anything, no pertinent reason to exercise, a lot of people I know are just convinced that you can’t be health without putting on a gym kit).

Haven't experienced it to the extent you have OP with people shouting from cars but i must admit it does grate at work when i am leaving in gym clothes i am constantly told you shouldn't be doing that etc - given that i am one of very very few females at my workplace 99% of these comments come from middle aged men who know me very little and as far as i know none of who have ever been pregnant so i just either correct them and say it is healthy or completely ignore them.

On the other hand my running group have been the total opposite and are all lovely and very encouraging, although do regularly ask if i am ok and to let them know if i want to slow down etc.

I think being pregnant means an awful lot of people think they suddenly have the right to comment on everything you do - going out with friends, exercising, what you are eating etc and you just have to ignore them completely and do what you want to do!

I have only had positive comments from strangers. Friends & family have expressed worry, but mostly through concern/ignorance and have been willing to listen to me regarding the advice I’m following and how I have modified exercise as pregnancy progressed.

I was still doing barbell squats at 37 weeks & it’s quite a sight, people definitely look twice!

Ignore them!! Easier said than done sometimes but you are doing nothing wrong. I don't run but i do a lot of power walking, have quite a physical job and am generally a pretty active person, i carried on as normal through my entire pregnancy and had a very straight forward pregnancy and labour. Maybe i was just lucky but i put it down to staying so active and my midwife agreed this probably helped a lot.

It wouldn't even occur to me that people would comment on it; I stopped running by the second trimester because it made me want to vomit/pee all the time but I was still doing other exercise. I was swimming at the gym the day before I had DS. All the advice I had was to keep exercising in pregnancy.

I swam right up to the week my wee one was born and swimming now with this pregnancy. I've only had a few looks (mainly from OAPs as I go to the midday adult swim and it's all pensioners!)
When I get in the jacuzzi though it's a different story! Holy moly everybody has an opinion. If anyone comments am I supposed to be there or, they don't think I'm supposed to be in there I just say 'I'm fine thanks'. I've now perfected a look of 'don't even open your mouth' and give everyone the death stare as I climb in. Maybe some earphones, a sarcastic smile and a thumbs up would do the trick? If not, better start practicing your death stare!

In seriousness though, if this is your normal then keep on doing it and ignore the haters. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

Ha I have been waiting for someone to try this (especially when cycling - I cycle to work every day. 35 weeks tomorrow) so I can ask them if they are an obstetrician.

Exercise is good for pregnant women and their babies, and I think people can judge for themselves what level is ok, though I am also a massive researcher when it comes to these things: good to be informed.

But actually no one has really said anything. I've had the odd comment at work about things like lifting stuff, really just people trying to be considerate, but they got the idea pretty quick I think that I can judge my own level of comfort and risk. I did have to have a battle with an outdoor activities centre when I was 14 weeks, them being stupid and panicking, as if kayaking for example was going to be a problem.

Personally I might avoid jacuzzi as there is actually some evidence there, but then I have baths pretty hot and feel ok with that - I can tell that my core body temperature isn't particularly rising.

I continued running until I was about 32 weeks and stopped when I found it made me too breathless. I did get some funny looks but learnt to ignore it (hard as I'm very self conscious). I also continued swimming right up until I was due. I think the lifeguards at the pool were a bit nervous I might pop, but no one said anything.

Exercising whilst pregnant is fine and healthy, people are ignorant. You'll know when you've reached your limit and you need to stop.

36+6 here and just finished my final week of gym classes - body pump and body balance. I was pretty much just lifting my body weight the last few weeks - that's heavy enough!
I also cycle commuted until 30 weeks (I work in central London so was a bit risky as I got bigger).
Haven't had any funny comments in the gym apart from a few bog eyed looks from the men when they see my tummy. Quite a few people were shocked i was still cycling - tbf i had some wet and horrid cycles home so I was quite ready to stop before Christmas.

Hoping the exercise will see me in good stead for labour. I certainly felt much better staying active. Ready for a rest now though!! Time to eat biscuits

Totally fine to keep exercising. Just wondering about the comments you have had including pre-pregnancy - do you wear a properly supportive sports bra? It's just a similar thing happened to my friend and we had to break it to her that it was because her bust was leaping about like a sack of over excited puppies. We dispatched her to Bravissimo who fixed the problem with some sturdy underwear

I haven't had anyone be negative about me exercising ( cardio or weight lifting) since I've been visibly pregnant. People are impressed/supportive and often say good on me for aiming to be strong for labour. I had some negative comments before 12 weeks saying I shouldn't exercise because the baby would "come unstuck" Keep working out and stay strong for as long as you can!!

These are the same people who say you can't eat mayo 🙄