Exercise during pregnancy

linmariebotha

Is it just me or is everyone confused about exercise during pregnancy? and would rather avoid it than to cause damage to the baby?

monkeyqueen

What's to be confused about?     Do you have questions on what you can do?   If you are having a low risk, healthy pregnancy, you can do the pretty much the same exercises you did pre-pregnancy.

Snow1010

Agree with the above.  If you're concerned about what you can/can't do, talk to your doctor.   I think the concern about exercise is when women who've never done any type of exercise start to once their pregnant because they're gaining weight.

I was a runner before being pregnant and ran 5 miles a day up until 35 weeks. 

Sunidaze

I think it may be just you.  This is definitely one of the things I discussed with my doctor when I first found out I was pregnant, but really there shouldn't be any confusion.  I did exercise while pregnant...until it got to the point where I was spending more time running to the bathroom than exercising...but really wished I had kept up with it at the time.

Flamingemu

There is nothing confusing about exercising while pregnant if you talk to your OB and are honest. If you exercised pre-pregnancy, you can keep up your routine as long as you are comfortable. 

I worked out 4-6 days a week before I got pregnant and was an avid runner. I ran a half marathon at 16 weeks and continued to run for a few more weeks. Once I had a belly, I had to slow down and eventually stop, but not because I was putting my baby at risk, because I couldn't breathe anymore! I switched to walking a few days a week instead. I am at 37 weeks (almost) still taking a Boot Camp class. It is intense and a good hard workout. My OB is okay with me continuing as long as I am comfortable and my instructor is great with giving me alternative exercises when my belly gets in the way of what we are doing. I love getting in a good hard workout several times a week, so while I can't run anymore, I am glad I can still take my class. 

JoNi2010

Sunidaze:

I did exercise while pregnant...until it got to the point where I was spending more time running to the bathroom than exercising.

This is me now too!!  

But to OP, I actually can understand your confusion if you had bad advice from a medical professional.  The first midwife at my very first visit was awful - she essentially told me all exercising was off-limit except walking.  I have no complications and I've been a very very active person my whole life.  I knew it was not correct.  But to have a health professional tell you that, especially when you're going through something new and exciting, made me doubt my instincts. 

I researched things myself (and asked these lovely ladies on H&F) and my subsequent midwives (I chose NOT to have her anymore) never had a problem with my exercise regimen.  I continued high impact until third trimester, and I even continued to rock climb (with full body harness) until probably 24 weeks.  At 30.5 wks, I am now starting to have a lot of back problems and other issues so I myself have pulled back my regimen to mainly walking, lower impact DVD workouts, and yoga. 

I think the general rule is that if you were doing it before the pregnancy and there are no complications, you should be fine to continue.  Just listen to your body.

moonstone523

I'm 8 months pregnant, still exercising 6x a week. 

tomkat35728

If you look around online, you'll find conflicting information about pregnancy and exercise.  Talk to your doctor, listen to your body and be confident that you can resume your pre-pregnancy exercise routine well into pregnancy.  I was able to run with DD up until 38 weeks.  I did yoga the day my water broke - 39 weeks, 1 day.

pennyplf

please do not worry, proper and fit exercise won't have any damage

megan888

what about exercise while TTC? I've read that sometimes it can cause problems if you exercise a lot (which I do)

carlab44

megan888:

what about exercise while TTC? I've read that sometimes it can cause problems if you exercise a lot (which I do)

If you are exercising to the point that you are not getting your period, it could affect your ability to TTC. But in general exercise, even a lot of it, shouldn't have a negative affect.