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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Pregnancy and the Gym

20 replies

VixenAndCub · 17/05/2022 20:12

Hey guys,
So I just found out I'm pregnant, so very early days at the moment. I was told by the receptionist at my doctor's to just ring my area's midwife in a fortnight. So I can't ask doctor or midwife this question yet:-

Can I still go to the gym, or should I wait until the first trimester is over? Or stop going for a bit?

I usually go once or twice a week. I typically; walk/jog on the treadmill, use the rowing machine, the bikes and quite a bit of weight training. That's the bit that concerns me the most; the weights.

Anyone with experience of gym and pregnancy? Thanks in advance!

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OurChristmasMiracle · 17/05/2022 20:15

Speak to a trainer at the gym but treadmill/bike and rowing machine should be fine. Listen to your body and if your tired stop

feistymumma · 17/05/2022 20:20

I am still lifting weights so it's completely ok as long as you are not a newbie for eg trying to start weightlifting while pregnant

gamerchick · 17/05/2022 20:27

Yes. It's sensible to keep it up. Just listen to your body, be aware that you'll have that hormone that makes your joints a bit like laggy bands. (Can't remember what it's called). Elastin?

There's no reason to stop though. Your body is used to it.

Crocky · 17/05/2022 20:36

The guidance I’ve always seen is if you did it before you were pregnant then it’s fine to continue as long as you are comfortable with it during pregnancy.

tealandteal · 17/05/2022 20:38

I checked this with my midwife about running and she said it’s fine to keep up the level of exercise you are used to.

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 17/05/2022 20:40

It's good for you to keep up any exercise you were doing before. You'll regret it in labour if you spend your pregnancy unnecessarily sitting on your arse.

Moancup · 18/05/2022 07:35

Stay fit, carry on doing what you were doing before. The midwife will check you are exercising when you have your booking in appointment.

Yogagirl18 · 18/05/2022 07:43

I regularly went to the gym and did weight training before falling pregnant so my midwife said it was ok to carry on, but just drop the weights slightly.
I managed ok for the start of rhe first trimester but had to stop for about 6 weeks when my symptoms kicked in! Started again around 14 weeks when I got my energy back.

HayleyBean · 18/05/2022 07:49

Hey I'm a avid gym goer, usually 4 times a week and only heavy weights. I also run a few times a week. I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant and stopped as soon as I found out (3+6). There's no way in hell I can even entertain the idea of either atm. The constant nausea, sickness and fatigue has been a killer.
I think the general rule is if you were doing it beforehand it's fine, just listen to your body and go lighter on the weights. Try not to get too hot either.

Purringcat3 · 18/05/2022 08:13

It’s fine - just don’t look to increase the level you are working at, including weights.

GinnyBee · 18/05/2022 09:33

Perfectly fine to keep exercising at a level you are used to! As long as you feel fine (so don’t force it through morning sickness) then crack on! Pregnancy is not the ime to be aiming for new PBs and as you get further you will probably need to go a bit lighter, just listen to your body and how you’re feeling and you’ll be fine.

Don't be scared of weight training either. That’s the one thing that helped me through the back pain when my bump started growing and threw my centre of balance forward - working the posterior chain helps you support the weight of your bump. So keep doing them deadlifts!

Original poster

VixenAndCub · 19/05/2022 18:16

Amazing - thank you everyone!! I'll definitely get right back on it then for next week. My partner was really concerned about it but hopefully this will put his mind at rest too knowing it'll only benefit! Great, because I feel I'll miss the gym otherwise 😆

OP posts:

Moancup · 20/05/2022 08:08

Partners (and mums I’ve discovered!) can be a bit old fashion and naive about what is safe in pregnancy. My partner thought you couldn’t lie on your stomach in the 1st trimester 🙄

Weathergirl1 · 20/05/2022 08:23

@VixenAndCub I'm quite sporty and for my first pregnancy I bought a copy of "The Pregnant Athlete: How to Stay in Your Best Shape Ever -- Before, During, and After Pregnancy" - it's written by a fairly serious triathlete and her doctor. Was really good reading - you can pick up second hand copies on Amazon now for about £5 now.

Original poster

VixenAndCub · 20/05/2022 08:34

It doesn't help I get conflicting information. Some health sites, including NHS, say exercise is great....unless it's too much. Like, how much is too much?
This is my second pregnancy and I had an awful time the first time. I wasn't a gym member back then, but loved to cycle and walk. Was told to stop using my bike by the second trimester. I'm hoping more exercise this time can help me enjoy this pregnancy more.

OP posts:

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 20/05/2022 08:37

I saw a pregnancy PT all the way through both my pregnancies and we barely slowed down by my due date. I think that really contributed to the fact that I had easy pregnancies, was always mobile and comfortable, two straightforward births, and fast recoveries. I was definitely on the exercise bike at the gym two days before my due date, because a gym employee asked when I was due and then nearly fell over when she got the answer 🤗😁

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 20/05/2022 08:39

Dammit, posted too soon. Footnote: you literally can't hurt the pregnancy by exercising. Long before you pushed it that hard your body would make you stop. What you can hurt is yourself because of your looser joints etc, which is why it's not a great time to take up weightlifting, but it's an absolutely great time to continue weightlifting or any other exercise at the same pitch as long as you feel OK to.

GinnyBee · 20/05/2022 09:31

@VixenAndCub the reason you would’ve been told to stop cycling in second tri is because of the risk of falling over, not because of the exercise itself 🙂 and for how much is too much, your body will tell you. You’ll probably find that you’ll automatically need to slow down a little and take it easier as you’ll get out of breath much easier and your heart rate is higher. But as PP points out, there is no risk to your baby from exercise, it’s more a risk to you as you’re more prone to injury during pregnancy if you don’t pay attention.

IsabelHerna · 20/05/2022 09:36

You can continue just don't push your limits, and let your trainer at the gym know.

Weathergirl1 · 20/05/2022 09:51

I continued to cycle as a form of transport - we didn't have a car and walking was really uncomfortable! If we'd not had huge bags to carry I'd have felt happy to cycle to the hospital for my ELCS! The risk-averse advice that some HCPs dole out is really unhelpful IMHO. I think being fit and trained prior to birth really helps with the recovery - my ELCS recovery was straightforward.

The book I listed upthread talks about RPE (relative perceived exertion) and uses the scale of 1-20 (which is a good rule of thumb for heart rate for a fit person- where 10 is 100bpm and 20 is 200bpm). 17 would be a fairly hard session - I tended to not go over 15 for most exercise and to be honest, it wasn't feeling that comfortable to push harder than that.

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