5 weeks and shattered

[Tallybeebloom]

I just found out I'm pregnant a couple of days ago. First pregnancy. Tested after a missed period and was feeling really tired all the time. The tiredness is getting worse and I know that's normal, but I don't know if it means I should rest or just keep going about as normal? I'm usually really active, yesterday I went for an hour long walk and felt so tired by the end that I was desperate to get back to the car and felt really light headed. I'm a hiker and climber and usually am walking or climbing 8+ hours, 2 days a week, plus running other days! I don't know if I should just be resting if I'm this tired but I also hate not doing anything and I want to try to keep my fitness going during pregnancy if it's possible as I've read that can be a good thing for labour and post partum.

The other thing is that my DP works away and is away right now when I found out. The pregnancy wasn't planned and I know he'll have a moment of panic (mainly because he has something happening in his life right now and we've discussed and I know he ideally wouldn't be wanting to have a child while it's ongoing but it's something that will pass, hopefully in the next couple of months, and he knew I wanted children after this, I just didn't expect it to happen now) but I know that he'll be supportive and a fantastic dad.
He comes back on Friday and I thought I should wait until he's back and tell him face to face but I hate talking to him every day and not telling him. I don't know if I'm best to wait until he's back and talk to him or tell him over the phone sooner which would give him some time to process it before he gets back.

I was exhausted before I found out with this one constantly dozing off, I did take a week off the gym when I 1st found out (I was due a rest week anyway). I do still go in the gym (powerlifting), I've reduced the weights by up to 25% and reduced sessions from 3 - 2 a week, finding squats a little harder now as my hips are showing signs of spd again. I will adapt lifts and do as much as I can as late in to pregnancy as possible.
General rule is you are fine to continue exercise but reduce intensity, the breathlessness test is better than heart rate tracking. So long as you can talk during/after exercise then the intensity is not too high. Just be careful with exercise that have high-rise of falls etc.
My husband is military so I know what you mean with the struggle not to say something. I've always waited until he was home rather than tell him over the phone. He was home when I found out with this one but I didn't tell him for a week as we had a mc in July. Even if he has stuff on there are several months to sort that out and get used to the idea of becoming a parent.
Good luck

**High risk missed that one

Thanks. I'm going to try going for a walk after lunch because it's a nice day. Was just worrying because I felt tired just after taking the dog out a short walk for a pee this morning so wasn't sure if that's a sign to just rest or if it's just one of those things and just to get on with it.

Thanks, it must be really hard having to wait until your husband is back from deployment to tell him. I might just wait until he is back next weekend to say in person.

It's all down to hormones atm, once they start levelling off and the placenta takes over most of the work it will get a bit better. Staying as active as possible will help later in pregnancy and with delivery.

After workouts I used to be full of energy and I was working a lot harder then, now I'm doing what was just warm up weight and I need a nanna nap after lol. I don't get as solid sleep at night either as up for the loo, that was 2 - 3 times early on but down to once now, that'll go the other way as baby grows. Hubby's not been on deployment for a while so he gets home most weekends atm which is great with all this lockdown lark and having 5 kids off school. Hated shopping with the 4 younger ones pre-covid, a nightmare these days as strangers think they have the right to judge! so I try to shop on my own as much as possible.

Do you have any suggestions for home workouts that are good to do during pregnancy?

I can't recommend strength training enough because it adapts to all abilities. Invest in some resistance bands, many starter packs come with little booklets on exercises to do with them. You can get them from 1kg to over 50kg of resistance so you can ease yourself in to it. Static bikes are good for cardio but you get numb bum so short sessions of 10-15mins followed by a rest period. I got a bike that folds up from Argos at a reasonable price.

We have a full rack and weights at home so I do barbell and dumbbell exercises, mainly compound lifts with a little isolation work for my arms/shoulders. Deadlifts, squats, bench press, bent over rows, military press, triceps extensions, front/lateral raises.