Pregnant - can I just carry on as normal for now?

[Daisychain12]

Just found out I'm pregnant with baby 2! Very excited!

I've been really into my yoga practice lately and have been doing at least an hour a day for the last 4 months. Quite dynamic. My fitness level is pretty good in general - can I carry on as normal for the time being and switch to prenatal yoga down the line?

I had a google, and can't get a clear answer. Surely if it's stuff I'm used to, and I'm not pushing my body into asanas I'm not comfortable in, it's ok? I'm only about 4 weeks along, baby-wise.

Advice would be greatly appreciated ❤️

As long as it’s not something like Bikram, you’re fine to crack on. And congratulations!

Yoga is weird as it was told to me that yoga in first trimester is very frowned upon, but that is by teachers who say inversions while having period also big no-no... so could be very classical stance as opposed to hard medical fact if you see what I mean.

My pregnancy yoga class wouldn’t take people in until 2nd trimester. I went to Nadia narain’s class and I think she has books/dvds etc on pregnancy yoga.

I agree with what @Peonyonpoint said. My yoga class wouldn't let me do yoga until 16 weeks I think so we'll out of the first trimester.

I'm not sure about the reason why but it seems to be fairly consistent as when I was looking for an AN specific class all of the classes were the same.

GL

I was the opposite of you, never practiced yoga until pregnant. I reached out to some yoga teachers when I first realised I was pregnant (I was eager to start!) who all said the same, if I was already doing regular yoga to carry on, if not wait until 12 weeks to start pregnancy yoga.
My though sister is a yoga enthusiast and carried on into pregnancy, she said avoid any positions that you know are folding or bending the stomach area excessively and no headstands! Also as with anything if you feel dizzy/tired rest before you continue.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

@AppropriateAdult thank you! And that was my first feeling too ❤️

@Peonyonpoint @cookiesaurus, yes I keep stumbling on this advice too! Inversions and back bends are a no, best to avoid all yoga until 16 weeks.... it's so confusing! And as yoga has been my only real form of me-time or exercise during lockdown, really gutting too!! 😂

Can't complain, as bfp is very very welcome news! but good to know about prenatal yoga at 16 weeks - I will look up that teacher @Peonyonpoint , thank you very much

@thekindyoufindinasecondhand thank you!
This seems really sensible and matches my gut feelings too. Just no silly bending or twisting, or pushing into things I can't do happily

There are loads of things that service providers won't offer in the first trimester, because they're afraid of being blamed if the woman has a miscarriage - most exercise classes, massage, beauty treatments. There is evidence for almost none of them. The embryo is very low down in the pelvis at this stage of pregnancy and extremely well protected, it's hard to imagine any mechanism by which yoga could cause a problem. As long as you're sensible and don't push out of your comfort zone, I wouldn't be worried about continuing.

My friend did the prenatal glow series on Alo Yoga. There are three series covering each trimester.

Are you on Instagram? If so have a look at the Yoga Doc, she’s a doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology and a yoga teacher, and she’s done several posts about how to exercise/practice yoga safely in pregnancy. I’ll pop in a couple of links which might be relevant:

www.instagram.com/p/B3NLRnlDIUM/?igshid=1rz0nx3nr5skh

www.instagram.com/p/B4-eEQJndKI/?igshid=4r4zejeixvos

Those who won’t teach first trimester is likely to be down to their insurance and not so much them. They also may not have pre/post natal qualifications that their insurance would require to be covered.

As for you though, there is no reason you cannot continue your fitness regime as long as it’s the same as what you were doing before - it’s about maintainance rather than progression

@AppropriateAdult that was the logical chat I needed! That makes a lot of sense, thank you.

@NotinTheMorning just been having a look - she seems great! Really helpful, thank you. Am down the Yoga Doc rabbit hole right now.... 😂

@BlackandWhiteCat01 that does make a lot of sense. I remember coming across something similar at a spa before - they didn't offer any pregnancy massage at all because of similar reasons. Thank you for making me feel better about my at home yoga ❤️

@ZaraW they do a free trial! I'm signing up and will have a look - thank you 😊

Daisychain12 enjoy. I just checked and they have quite a few series for pregnancy. Mackenzie Miller has classes and talks. She's a great teacher and she was pregnant when she filmed.

Congratulations on baby number 2! Speak to your regular yoga instructor. She will know you and your body best. If you have a regular practice, you’re fine to continue in 1st trimester (the baby is small and in the pelvis so is well protected). You’ll need to make some adjustments to your poses for 2nd trimester onwards but it’s still possible to have a decent physical workout if you find the right pregnancy yoga class.