Can you do exercise that increases your heart rate in pregnancy?

[stripeysquirrel]

I just wanted to know if it was safe to continue doing power walks, my local walk (which includes hills) and anything that makes my heart beat faster? :) first time mum to be so I wasn’t sure.

I would imagine it's fine to continue any exercise you currently do.

Yes absolutely, keep walking mama!

Absolutely fine. DF was playing Netball till 36 weeks.

Absolutely fine. Anything your body is used to. I ran on my due date with my second and was in the gym doing circuits etc. until both my babies were actually born (both overdue).

If I remember right the advice was to keep to a level you can still hold a conversation. If you're too out of breath to speak that's not so good! But continuing with exercise you're used to is usually ok.

I continued to run until about 36 weeks in my pregnancies. I still did lots of walking in those final few weeks.

Yep! I went to Zumba until 40 weeks.

There actually isn’t any guidance on intensity and there is no evidence to suggest that high intensity exercise is harmful. (Obviously if it is causing pain, dehydration, or tightenings it’s too much)

The guidance for pregnant women from WHO and the Department of Health/NHS is the same as for all adults: 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, plus ‘strengthening’ activities on two days per week.

Another one here who ran throughout (albeit pretty slowly towards the end!) I figured that childbirth could well be the greatest marathon of my life so I'd better train for it 😂

Yes. I used to run 40 miles a week, lifted weights and did circuits classes. Right until I gave birth by C-section. Back at it by week 4. I fully believe being fit and strong aided my recovery. Keep on walkin’.

All you people who carried on running: how did you do it?! Psychologically, plus was it not uncomfortable?! I’m fine walking and weight training/circuits but at 22 weeks I feel so heavy and strange if I try to run! I feel out of breath walking up hills I used to run up some days!

With my first, I couldn’t run from about 20 weeks because it literally felt like he was directly on top of my bladder and it was just miserable.

It was totally fine with my second though.

No idea what the difference was. I certainly wasn’t fitter the second time around 😂

Climbed a huge hill day before my due date. Baby was 3 days late. Also rode my horse throughout pregnancy

Keep walking for sure. I'm 20 weeks and this time round getting dizzy at times due to medication I'm on but I still try and get in 10,000 steps per day at a good speed.

Definitely fine to do what you feel you can, NHS advice is do what you were already doing, don’t start something new. I’ve found swimming great