Confused about exercise in pregnancy

[francesrivis]

Hi, I'm not pregnant yet but TTC number 2. I currently go to the gym four times a week and do fairly intense running and weight training. I'm a bit confused about whether this is safe if/when I get pregnant - I remember last time the midwife said it's OK to carry on with any exercise you normally do, but I'm sure I've also read that you shouldn't do anything that gets you very hot and out of breath, and my running definitely does that!! I also can't find any information anywhere about weight training in pregnancy. Does anyone have any advice? Also, for fellow gym users, if you modified your routine did you do so when TTC or did you wait until you knew you were pregnant?
TIA.

If you are not meant to do anything that gets you hot and sweaty when trying to conceive then dd2 would never have come along!!

On a more serious note, I would suggest that you talk to your GP or an advisor at the Gym...I am sure they would be able to help you!!

I don't use the gym intensively like you, but am still going once a week at 21 weeks pregnant with dc2. Your gym should have someone qualified in pregnancy exercise. Mine does, and the only things she removed from my programme were abs weights. She also added in additional lower back work, to help support the bump as it grows.

There was a thread a couple of months or so ago about exercise in pregnancy, which had a few links on it too I think. If you search under my name you'll prob find it.

I wouldn't change anything until you are already pregnant.

Thanks for replies. the gym I use is at the (men's) prison where I work, so I wouldn't really feel comfortable asking the staff there for advice! Cantsleep - what is your weight training routine like - do you use a lot of free weights or mostly machines?

Machines fr. I do a mixture of cardio stuff (rower, cross trainer, stepper, treadmill, bike) and then weight machines which mostly focus on legs and bum (adductor, absductor, leg curls etc).

This is the thread I was thinkin of btw, but it does focus more on cardio stuff.

Hello

I am 30 weeks and still go to the gym min. 3 times a week plus pregnancy yoga once per week. So I exercise at least 4 times every week.

In terms of running - yes, I am still running, but only on the treadmill. I stopped running outside at ca. 24 weeks, mainly because I was getting more unsteady on my feet and didn't want to fall over in the park or on a pavement somewhere. If you're steady on your feet, no reason not to continue running outside! My consultant is totally happy with my exercise routine - same message though; don't overdo it, deliberately slow down a little. You should be able to talk (even if panting!) when running. For me, my baby limited the intensity naturally anyway, as already in week 12 or so my capacity was dramatically reduced. Almost overnight my 5k time increased by almost 8 minutes! No kidding! Probably also because I don't push myself to the limit anymore. It's all about staying comfortable.

I plan to continue running as long as I can. Now I am starting to feel it in my pelvis a little after each run, so I have invested in a good support belt, and it really helps. Try to get one, as it will help you from putting too much pressure on your pelvis as your belly grows.

That's it really - good luck with keeping up your regime! Oh and by the way - not to be recommended to anyone to START a regime when pregnant - all of this is obviously for osmeone who already is exercising and just need to adjust.

Thanks, good to know it's possible to keep running. I will check out the other thread too.

still going to the gym one/twice a week until about 3 weeks ago. Now got quite heavy (strain on pelvis now) so have replaced walking up hill on machine with swimming -still doing pilates once a week. Agree with lis that did notice real difference at about 12 weeks from being normal in terms of pre/post pregnancy what I could do adn afterwards. Also cut down on visits in first 12 weeks when felt dog tired.

The advice my mw has given me is that it is fine to carry on as long as it is exercise you have been doing regularly - I am 13 weeks now and still doing high-impact aerobics classes.

But does anyone know about doing abs work? I asked my instructor and she said that she had information that said it was fine to carry on doing abdominal crunches etc but also had information that said you should stop these at 12 weeks - so basically she said she didn't know the answer and it was upto me to decide whether to do them or not. Does anyone know which is correct?

ceebee - my pregnancy qualified gym instructor said not to do them, so I'm going with her, rightly or wrongly. I'd rather not them when I could have then do them when I shouldn't IYSWIM.

Hi- my gym instructor has told me that I shouldn't let my heart rate get over 140bpm when doing cardio. For that reason he said to not hold onto the moving handle things (sorry for technical term!) on the cross trainer, as apparently this is what really gets your heart rate up. Also, no pushing weights above your head, and in your second trimester, you shouldn't lie on your back for more than 20 secs.
I had high blood pressure in my last preg and pre-eclampsia. BP already up a bit (am 9 + 1) but my obs seemed very happy for me to keep going to the gym and keep playing netball (at least until my bump gets in the way, but think you're only allowed to play up until 12 weeks anyway, although I played until 15 wks with DD1).

I exercised all the way thru my pregnancy altho I wasn't comfy running I used to use the crosstrainer, bike and step machine etc. Didn't do any weights as it seemed a good excuse not too! I found www.babyfit.com good. (Altho a lot of posters seem a bit weight obsessed - they do seem to get weighed lots in America during pregnancy!)

Swimming is brilliant, particularly as it is about the only way to get comfy lying on your front as you hit the final few months. I cycled to and from work in my last pg, getting some rather odd looks as I peddled home on my final day (6 days before edd)- I just needed a "wide load" sign on my jacket. Been feeling to sick to do much this time.
Good luck with it all though, it is a great way to maintain some small semblance of control over the ever expanding body!

In 2004, when pregnant with DS1, my OB told me not to let my heart rate get above 140bpm. She said there was also a risk that if I got too hot, the intra-uterine temp would increase. Studies of high temp in dogs saw an association with low birth weight.

I also had my orthotics adjusted as the softeneing ligaments meant I was pronating more.

Over here we are advised to go swimming, and they have classes for pregnant women, which I have joined a month ago. Swimming is also good because in the water you don't feel the weight of your bump, plus you don't put pressure on back, legs etc, and you don't sweat + you do lots of breathing exercises wich will be useful once in labour. ANd it seems that the baby likes it as well!

I'd see how you get on. I was running at the beginning of my pg but now too sick and tired . I just slowed down a bit so I didn't get too hot.

There some guidelines on t'internet somewhere: I think most are cased around not letting your heartrate get above a certain level.

The main thing is to listen to your body and stop if you get too tired or are in pain. Exercise in pg is def a Good Thing and you're in a good position being fit at the beginning.

Here is a good website for exercise in pregnancy.