How far in pregnancy did you feel like you can no longer do normal things?

[hahavzv]

Just out of curiosity, how far were you when you really felt the effects of pregnancy? Where you had to think twice about things?

In other words, when did you not become super active?

I remember in my first pregnancy, at 36 weeks, I felt I could no longer work full time as it felt really uncomfortable. Just want to know your experiences.

How did this differ with other pregnancies, if so?

First pregnancy 36 weeks, second pregnancy 32 weeks 😅 As in, can't bend down any more to e.g. tie shoe laces, can't walk as far/long as I normally do, can't wear heels without ankles swelling. I'd stay I am still active though! Just have to balance it more carefully, like, 2 or 3 small walks instead of 1 long walk.

DC1 - I was tired by about 34 weeks, but worked full time up to 39 weeks and managed OK. Lots of early nights, though!

With DC2 I had severe hyperemesis, so the whole pregnancy was a nightmare!

Do you think staying active during pregnancy helps with staying as active as you can?

Yes. I did my last body combat class the day before I gave birth. Being fit and active made a huge difference to my weight, mobility and the actual birth experience. It was far far easier than my first 13 years previously where I was told to stop exercising and eat for two. I was in a right state by 7 months and wobbling about. I wasn't going to let that happen again so at no point during my second pregnancy did I feel that I couldn't do things (except perhaps paint my toenails).

@TheFormidableMrsC so I have another question for you. What advice would you give to someone who hasn't really stayed active and they would like to during pregnancy? Would you encourage them to work out or take it easy since you're not used to it?

I think you should take advice about starting exercise during pregnancy if you've not done it before. My aim was maintain my fitness, I didn't start that during pregnancy. There is nothing stopping you taking a daily walk and maybe some light hand weights. You could also try pregnancy yoga. However, would speak to your midwife in the first instance.

First pregnancy I really kept doing everything as long as possible. So I worked up until my due date (though I wfh so its a bit different). I was still going to the gym the day I gave birth, but stopped doing body pump I think at 36 weeks and started just walking on the treadmill instead.

Pregnant for the 2nd time and I'm starting at a much worse place as not been exercising as regularly etc now I have a toddler. I'm planning to stop work probably at 38 weeks, don't regularly go to the gym any more and really notice the difference. I think your pre-pregnancy activity levels make a massive difference

First pregnancy I had a medical scare and had to stop work at 32 weeks. I suddenly had loads of energy and realised how tired I had been with commuting?, work and on-calls. I was very active until the day of delivery. Second pregnancy I found more tiring towards the end as I had a toddler to look after as well as the home. I remained fully active though until having the baby. With DC3 I was older and generally felt more unwieldy.

You sound like a journalist.

I’d start with walking everywhere. You don’t want to suddenly start body combat after being inactive. But birth is basically an endurance event and is massively helps to be trained up

I'm not a journalist lol I'm just finding this really interesting. I plan to stay as active as I can.

DS I worked until 34 weeks (3/4 mile walk at each end and a train and tube). Didn't change anything really. The next fortnight was madly organising Christmas and buying everything we needed for the baby. Visited ILs at 35 weeks, 450 mile round trip. At 36.2 oiled/seasoned a new kitchen floor and then cleaned the insides of all windows (huge big bays, involving ladders).
At 36.3 I went into labour, baby was born 36.4 on Christmas day!

DD - 41 weeks. I wasn't working but didn't slow down. Walked 2/3 miles a day to the park, to collect DS from nursery. You can't really slow down with the second baby, the toddler still needs lifting in and out of the bath, car, etc.

Both times I kept up going to the gym until about 34 weeks, I could have kept on going right up to the birth really in terms of work, but then I had a sedantary job and I was lucky to sleep quite well through both of the pregnancies.

DS1 - started to feel exhausted and uncomfortable from around 32 weeks.

DS2 - I was carrying on as normal until I went into early labour at 38+4 weeks.

Yes!
I swam up until 2 days before birth (I am 42, first baby and been active all my life). Did toning work too.
Brilliant pregnancy and birth, nothing major to report. Healthy baby. Was back in the pool 2 weeks later.

Inspiring!!! So I'm due to fly out and I will be 30 weeks at the time. I don't want to be absolutely shattered at that stage but I am quite active generally and both my pregnancies were fine.

DD1 I never really stopped doing normal things. I hosted a big party three days before she was born, and swam until the end.

With DD2 I had a dip in the middle thanks to horrid anaemia. But once that was treated I was fine again until I was put on bed rest at 36 weeks.

About 34/35 weeks I ended up getting signed off work early but I was very swollen couldn't even get shoes on my feet and ended up with preeclampsia and being induced at 38 weeks .

36 weeks. I have CP and my balance was really off.
My bumps were all round and low and it probably makes a difference how you carry
Third one was sooner as it was an incredibly hot August

Tbh I think I was really lucky, aside from bad sickness I never felt I struggled.

1st I was pregnant during lockdown so was always chilling but would go for bike rides sometimes 20km. Other pregnancy issues meant I didn't get very big.

The 2nd my eldest was only 15m old so tbh I didn't have much choice other than to carry on as normal.

I didn’t have any issues, I worked up until the birth and there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do that I previously did.

i suppose I didn’t stop but changed high impact exercises for swimming, walking and yoga.

Any changes in activity should be checked with medical staff. I have spine issue keeping agile is absolutely essential.

I swam and cycled up to past 40 weeks so yeah.

I don't think she does really?

Never tbh. I mean the first half of each I couldn't because I had HG so it was a write off. Once I was recovered from that though (gradual process) I had gradually gone back to normal life. I was more tired from around week 34+ both times but it didn't have any significant impact on my day to day life or activities either time, even with quite painful PGP the second time round. I'm hoping it will be the same this time but so far my sickness is worse than it was at this stage with my previous two (I'm 22 weeks). So I'm less physically active now still than I was by now in my other pregnancies, so bit concerned about that.