How naughty is it not to do any exercise?

[VanillaIce]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and have done hardly any exercise at all. I bought a pre-natal workout dvd and have done it a grand total of once. We have a gym in our building and I last visited it at about 5 weeks which is roughly when my morning sickness kicked in. I felt so wiped out by it, just lay on the bed/sofa feeling sorry for myself until about 16 weeks. It really knocked me for six.

I stopped working quite a while ago so don't even have to walk to the tube and back now. Some days I stay in my PJs till mid-afternoon having moved only between the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen and Mumsnet!

I was fit and slim pre-pregnancy and luckily I haven't gained weight anywhere other than my bump and what I have gained there seems to be a normal amount. So I'm not panicking about losing the weight or anything but do you think it really makes any difference in labour if you've been so inactive during the pregnancy?

I do have a bad back, terrible pain around my ribs, front and back, especially in the evening and DH thinks it's because I'm not moving my muscles enough. Could he be right? I worry exercise will only make it worse.

Plus I feel knackered if I so much as walk to the shops and back so I take the view that I should rest. But then is the reason I'm so knackered precisely because I am so inactive?

Any advice?

RELAX. Please.

Rest is a very good idea when you are pregnant - the more rested you are when you give birth, the more quickly you will be up and about after the birth.

If you felt like lying on the floor and doing some very gentle stretching while listening to music, that might be good for your sore joints, muscles etc.

You feel knackered beacuse your not doing anything to get your blood pumping, plus this weather does not help. Swimming is the best form of exercise going. IT supports the weight of your bump so does not have any impact on your joints or on the baby. I swam whilst pregnant with DD and had a 7 hour labour. Being fit aids in an easier birth.
I know its the last thing you want to do, but its worth it.

I think you have to listen to your body. If a walk to the shops wears you out then it is too much.

Walking is probably the best exercise in pregnancy so if you can do a bit then that's great, but don't overdo it.

It could be inactivity that is causing the aches and pains, but it might have nothing to do with it. So just do what you can. Can you build up the amount you do, so 2 mins walking today, 3 tomorrow, 4 the next day etc?

If you haven't put on an excessive amount of weight with the pregnancy then labour should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it!

Ah, yes, swimming is good exercise too - but I could never be bothered to get the baths .

Some gentle stretches sound like a good idea - do you have an antenatal book like What To Expect When You're Expecting with exercises in?

I'm still doing over an hours walking a day to and from DDs school at 37 wks.

This is tons more than I did when I was preg with DD, and I must admit I feel so much better after I've had a walk, even if it is a bit much sometimes. I definately feel less tired, have a better nights sleep, less hip/joint pain than on days when I've just vegged on the setee.

Although, saying that, everybody's different

I think it's different for everybody. A doctor friend of mine firmly believes that women should rest their bodies in the third trimester - she says gym bunnies often have quite tough early labours because their muscles are so tight.

Having said that, you should probably try to get out each day for a little walk - even just 15 mins. And do some basic stretches for your back and shoulders just to stop things seizing up. The thing about a little walk is that it will lift your mood and the increased oxygen is good for your baby.

Don't worry about all those nutters who are still swimming 60 lengths a day at your stage, I'm really not sure it makes much difference in the long run.

I have done fuck all really.

I usually workout 6 days a week, but the MS hit me hard and I kind of got out of the habit. I walk everywhere anyway and have been doing yoga once a week. But apart from that lying on the lounge watching telly and eating chips has been my main activity - it worked last time!

Have been getting a bit of round ligament pain with all the walking, so have slowed right down.

I could have written your post, vanillaice, well, right up until the part where you mention pains/aches in your back/ribs - I don't have that.

And this is the third pregnancy I've conducted in such a way. With my first my labour was 5hours 15mins, pinged back into shape. Second labour 1 hour 40mins and the few extra pounds I had melted away with bf'ing. Fingers crossed, this is just the way it works for me and I'm just as lucky this time.

Certainly, it's 'advisable' to stay moderately active but we're all different and we really ought to listen to our bodies. Don't push yourself too hard if it feels too much.

I don't think pain around your ribs is caused by inactivity?

I was fit before hyperemesis set in, then I wasn't able to move. I am now okay and going for wee walks and so on. I will be starting excercising again soon, BUT only because I have sever pelvic instability and not excercising causes me to be in a lot of pain. Otherwise, I woulnd't bother my backside.

33 weeks seems a bit late to start imo. Little walks are enough at that late stage.

Fwiw, I did f-all during my first pregnancy and had very straightforward and fast labour, delivery and recovery.

If walking to the shops is juggering you, don't push it.

Vanillaice - I am with you! Before my pregnancy I was a regular exerciser, I used to run, walk, swim, gym and play squash. Since preg I manage a walk a couple times a week and this wipes me out. It was really getting me down but I have decided that I have always exercised throughout my life so 9 months off will not hurt.

Lets face it there is no hard and fast rules (from what I have read) about exerising and length of birth.

Good luck and hope the aches and pains are not too bad.

Gosh, don't worry! I don't think it makes a jot of difference in the end. And if your weight gain is normal then your body is probably dealing quite well with everything. If you can get out for a bit of a move about every day, great. If not, do some pelvic floors, roll your shoulders around and enjoy your last ever 7 weeks of laziness! Come Feb, you'll look back on this time longingly. And lucky you not working - make the most of it.

i was pretty active during my pg, including yoga and swimming until 42 weeks. and i had crap labours and births

so IME it doesn't make for an easy birth, though it definitely lifted my mood and helped my back in pg

I was worried also about lack of activity - I felt very guilty I bought a yoga for pregnancy book and I move it around the house so my DP thinks I've actually done some of the excercises!
I did walk a fair bit though until my doctor told me off as it's now cold out!

But it's so hard to stay away from choccies when stuck indoors

sex is excercise is it not? and hoovering?

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Moving a bit more will probably help your back. How about a walk round the block for half an hour once a day? And some pregnany yoga is good for toning and getting baby to stay in the right position. Other than that its good to rest too, but not stay still for too long periods cos you'll seize up.

The yoga has really helped with my back pain too.