Fab fit mums to be - anyone fancy starting a fitness/activity support thread

[CareerGirl01]

Seems there are a few of us wanting to stay active during our pregnancies. How about a non-judgement place where we can support each other; from the walkers to the runners- big/small etc?!

[worsestershiresauce]

I'm not sure I qualify given I recently popped and produced a newborn, but can I add my encouragement to all you mums to be wanting to stay fit during your pregnancy. It is absolutely worth it. I kept very active throughout and as a result found my pregnancy easy, the birth very manageable, and despite being a tiny size 8 before hand produced a stonking 8lb baby who arrived pink and healthy and have had zero problems with milk coming in. My recovery has also been amazingly quick - I was out and about the day after the birth, and 8 days post delivery I feel fine, and my bump has shrunk to the tiniest hillock. Stay fit girls, it makes the whole process a pleasure

[CareerGirl01]

Congratulations worseter - I was wondering about you and bub!!!

[CareerGirl01]

Am envious as I am going to have to have an ELCS but keeping active should help my recovery - here's hoping.

[ExpatAl]

CareerGirl, my CS was not under the happiest of circumstances but being fit really helped my recovery and I healed very fast. The consultant told me that my ds could breath unaided because of my exercise so if it's good for babies lungs that's good enough for me!

[worsestershiresauce]

Hi CareerGirl, being fit will absolutely help your recovery! I've rather more stitches than I care to think about, and being active and moving about has definitely helped the swelling go down. Good luck for the big day - there really is nothing like the moment they set your baby on your chest for the first time.

[chickenfactory]

Me please. Just started mat leave so plenty of time but don't know where to start. Have a pedometer which I wore as part of a gest diabetes study and when working I was walking less than 5000 steps a day (equals sedentary lifestyle!) 11 weeks to go and knackered just climbing the stairs.

[SeriousStuff]

Yes please! I started off with such good intentions (pre-pg I was exercising 5-6 days a week), but since the nausea kicked in, I've found it difficult to take the dog for a walk let alone anything else. Thing is, I know exercise can help with sickness but it's just getting myself to do it!

Some encouragement would be great! Compared to DH who keeps saying, that there's no wonder I don't feel great if I don't commit to exercising etc... (his heart's in the right place, but the words come out wrong!)

[Woodifer]

Last pregnancy I cycled to 38 weeks, and did a couple of swims a week.

I had quite bad PGP (pelvic girdle pain) which was brought on by some over enthusiastic off road running at about 14 weeks.

This time I am cycling a bit less frequently - given I only go into officee 2 days (intead of 5 days) a week. And the weather has been atrocious for cycling - though I have managed to keep doing longer rides at the weekends.

I am 17+4 at the moment - so just over the worst of the first trimester. Last week took a nose dive in exercise terms with a sicky toddler (and being knackered from week before).

With this seemingly interminable winter I took out a gym membership just after finding out I was pregnant. My thought was this would be for a couple of months until the weather perked up - but I am enjoying classes so much I think I might keep it up until baby comes.

I am doing body pump class - low weight high repetition class - which I find ace for arms and back and posture, I really focus on the form and engaging transverse tummy muscles - I found some leaflets on line for adapting this class for pregnancy (including inclining the bench) - because of my previous pelvis issues I don't do any lunges and just do more squats.

I also go to pilates (both these classes are included in the gym membership) - now this isn't a special pregnancy class - so I did lots of research on how to adapt this, things not recommended fall into several areas
a) Things lying on your back - now this is rare (and I still sleep on my back or wake up there!) but some people will pass out if lying on their back after about 16 weeks because of increased pressure on return vein due to weight of baby/uterus. Risk is reduced if you are active in that postition i.e. moving legs as this pumps blood back. My take on this is I do, do exercise on my back and in shoulder bridge but take breaks sitting up or lying on my side.
b) Things involving crunches/ sit ups - this is due to risk of separating the longitudinal (chest to pubis) abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) - I don't do these exercises - if either class is doing crunches or similar I do leg lowers on my back or tummy exercises sucking in my tummy button/ pelvic tilts that are done on hands and knees.

other things c) Getting out of breath
When cycling if there is a hill I sometimes can't avoid getting out of breath, and I sometimes try hard, I think I know if I am overdoing it and reign it in - but I still enjoy a bit of effort. Because of my personality I am avoiding spin classes - because I suspect I would try too hard (and I find them quite warm!!) - what I have read about this is that the old recommendation of keeping heart rate below 140 bpm is overly conservative (this was based on a theory that you might be diverting required oxygen from fetus - subsequent research showed that generally blood flow to fetus compensated during exercise). Additionally if you exercise frequently (3+ times a week) - this is better for fetus as they become accustomed to exercising too, rather than getting a bit of a shock once a week say.

Blimey this turned into a long reply - sorry!

[CareerGirl01]

Will start a thread! I'm trying the Lynne Robinson Pilates DVD after work this evening and report back!

[retroelle]

I'd like to join. I am only 5 weeks but have stopped my usual running (ludicrous fear of somehow shaking the embryo loose) and want to start swimming instead. I hate feeling unfit.

[SeriousStuff]

This thread is making me do it today! In 10 mins I will be doing my Tracy Anderson Pregnancy Project then off out with the dog!

[MightBeMad]

Me too please!

[CareerGirl01]

Okay well today I managed 15 minutes on the gym cross trainer - heart rate between 130 and 150 and a few squats with light weights and some half push ups for my posture. I've been given some pregnancy specific bum exercises which involve resting on all fours and moving one leg slowly up. Managed a few of these - have to say things are getting uncomfortable now. But I'm going to try and do the Pilates DVD to relax this evening but am knackered.

[CareerGirl01]

woodifer is impossible for me to do anything on my back - at 32 weeks obviously not - but I can do modified chest presses (one arm only) in the bridge position but resting my back on the Bosu ball - this is another one my pregnancy expert PT gave me - is good one for the boobs.

[CareerGirl01]

seriousstuff I loved TA first cardio DVD and did it after DD1 was born. Is the pregnancy project any good?

[SeriousStuff]

CareerGirl01 I've been doing TAM for nearly 3 years and love it so it was a natural choice for me.

I really like the pregnancy project - it's only the muscular structure stuff, no cardio and it's very easy to follow. There are a couple of moves which I found were putting too much strain on my stomach muscles but I just skip these now. Just do what feels right for you. Much more manageable than her usual stuff and I love the fact that at least my arms and legs get a good going over. I do miss my cardio though!

There are a few of her pregnancy moves on YouTube so maybe try those out first and see what you think www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tracy+anderson+pregnancy+workout&oq=tracy+anderson+pregnancy&gs_l=youtube.3.0.0l6.1120.7178.0.8120.28.14.0.4.4.1.498.2265.1j3j2j2j1.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.FTdpCwvyOnU

[HazleNutt]

Hi all, I'm 25 weeks and while some sports are getting more difficult, I try to keep fairly active. Did a Tae Bo class today and tomorrow teaching Bodypump.

The latter is excellent in pregnancy, if you have been doing it before, no reason to stop. You can find the info mentioned by Woodifer here:
www.lesmills.com/files/baltic/UPPDATERAD_Design_BPpregfolder.pdf

[bluer]

Me! Been going to aerobics class so far...i'm 17 Weeks. I started going about a year ago bit i'm not super fit. The lady who takes the class is amazing ....she keeps an eye on me, gives me different things to do during the abdominal work and has been so supportive. I enjoy the social mix and the other women offer encouragement and comments on the bump! I go anywhere from one to three times a week depending on my energy levels..hope to keep going as long as possible.
I have stopped boxercise and circuit type class...they aren't as easily adaptable and are run by young men who don't really get what limitations and issues come as you're growing etc.

[Christelle2207]

watching with interest. 20 weeks and a keen runner, did 10 mile race at 6 weeks, since then have not managed anything near that distance (ran very little after that because of sickness and contant colds) and am finding 5k runs really hard work at the moment. Also do bodypump once a week (supportive instructor) which is fine at the mo. Intend to start swimming once weather gets warmer.
Absolutely definitely want to keep active somehow or other as long as I can. Have had weight/food issues int the past and the only way I sorted was by getting into exercise so worried about turning into a useless lump if I don't exercise and never getting back into it!
Also doing a reasonable amount of cycling, hopefully this is a good time of year to increase that.

[CareerGirl01]

Hazelnutt I'm going to try body pump in the next few days. Can recommend the Lynne Robinson pregnancy Pilates DVD as a compliment to aerobic exercise. christelle I had been exercising for 15 years before having DD1 (started at 17) and I was worried I wouldn't get back into things. Well the last four years since she was born I've actually managed to get fitter (exercise is my me time and I don't mess around). bluer being fit - keeping up some activity good no matter what.
Today I'm having a rest day as I've got lots on with DD1's school evening and a show and tell at her nursery. As well as trying to finish off work before taking my mat leave

[HazleNutt]

CareerGirl if it's your first Bodypump, take it easy! Check out the leaflet I posted, as not all instructors know the options.
If your instructor is doing the latest release, there are some jumps in lunge track that you might want to skip and do squats instead, and ask the instructor for some alternative ab work, as the current program is not really suitable in pregnancy, too many crunches. have fun!

[ExpatAl]

Reading you ladies is making me feel quite exhausted. Think I'll put my feet up for a while.

[hokeycakey]

Hi all

I am pregnant with dc4 first trimester about 8 weeks I have managed to keep active all pregnancies & lost weight and got back in shape quickly after delivery each time so hoping to do the same again

This time though I feel bloody awful! Sick as a dog & really struggling to keep up with exercise I am walking 20 mins school run twice a day with double buggy plus 20mins yoga/Pilates but struggle with that sometimes

If any of you use DVDs have to recommend 10mins solution prenatal Pilates which is brilliant as well as the perfect pregnancy workout which has v low production values but gets the job done!

[TotallyEggFlipped]

Hello everyone. I'm 22 weeks and just about still running. I'm finding my motivation is slipping away in the last couple of weeks. Before I got pregnant I was running 12-14km, 3-4 times a week. I'm now managing 6-8km, 2-3 times a week, but much, much slower. I find getting out of bed in the morning to run so difficult these days. I used to be able to leap out of bed at 5 or 6 am, but now it takes me about an hour to get moving and I have to be back before DH goes to work at 8:15. I don't do any exercise on the days I work. I really need a kick up the backside!

[badguider]

Can I join? I had a disasterous first trimester with absolutely overwhelming fatigue and nausea. Between weeks 6 and 9 I was going straight to bed when I got home from work and sleeping all weeekend.

Then I went skiing in wk 12 which went well and I felt more optimistic but then got a horrible cold and was floored again with fatigue.

Now 15 weeks exactly and have just been out for a bike ride - took my mountain bike on some flatish but muddy/slushy paths and found it scary how hard I was working to ride slow, so really not ready to try running again yet... but OMG I feel better for doing it.

Have got a couple of DVDs on order and am doing pregnancy yoga once a week. Used to mountain bike and trail run a LOT.. but I'm not a size 8 petite wee thing, I am a sturdy build anyway and put on 4kgs before I even got to my booking in appointment . Just want to slow that gain down but what I care about the most is staying fit, healthy and mobile, I don't really care what I look like (I know I can train back to healthy size after the birth).