Pregnancy Info HOME

I am totally bummed that no one out there is working out, I really wanted to chat with someone about this

Mary - I saw that you're bummed about no one answering... so i'll give you my experience.

I've only found out that i was pregnant over the weekend. After a negative pee test at the doctors office I took a blood test, and apparently the doctor is concerned that the serum level was too low (93 at week 4).

Anyway, back to exercise... i am fairly inconsistent with my exercise, but do at least 2 days a week of something. (Just did an olympic triathlon 3 mo. ago, but totally got caught up with work since hence the decrease in exercise.)

But with the emotional drama in the last 4 days of addressing the "viability" of our pregnany, I was drawn to go for a run at the beach today... it was really nice. But I noticed that my heart rate was WAY higher than it normally is. Even doing minor things like walking up the stairs at the beach - I was at around 130, when I'd normally be around 90 for that!

So, my question to you, as a runner is - did you notice that your heart rate was higher when you worked out in your first trimester? And just to help me motivate, do you feel like your consistent exercise is really making a positive difference to your whole experience of being pregnant?

hello ......julietta...even i wnted an aswr for this...ihve been running on treadmill at the speed of 10..we r trying to conciecve now...isit ok ifi run on treadmill at alower speed....?????will it affect my conception???

Sorry this took so long to get back Julietta...I did notice a heart rate change, I believe it's because of the increase in blood volume. And YES i totally believe that consistent exercise has had a positive impact on me and my baby. I feel better mentally and physically. This is my second baby, my first is now 18 months. Being physically active in exercise gives me the endurance to keep up with her all day !!! I'm 23 weeeks now and i'm still up with my routine. I do walk a bit more here and there during the run, mostly on the hills, hills are tough lately!! I did not work out as hard with my first and I over ate. I gained a ton of weight with my first and felt when labor/delivery came i was not prepared simply because I was out of shape. Try not to worry about the whole heart rate / pregnancy thing...the new studies show that the old 'don't get your heart rate above 140' is not accurate because the general population really are not that active...active woman such as ourselves are able to safely achieve a higher rate during pregnancy, safely. We are used to it.

BUMP! still wondering is anyone out there is still working out...i'm 30 weeks now. Running 4 times a week, 2 miles. Yoga 2-3 times a week and lifting on the 7th day. ANYONE ELSE WORK OUT AT ALL?????? IF so what are you doing, how often and what is your weight gain?? All this working out and I still have gained 30 lbs so far. I gained way too much with my first baby (70lbs) EEEKK. So i GUESS i'm doing much better this time.

Mary B, i just read this and thought i'd respond. I'm not pregnant now, but have kids aged 3 and 1, and i worked out/exercised ALOT all the way thru. With first kid, i was at the gym, on the ellipitical (on due date) when i contractions started. With #2, i was 4 days overdue when i was induced but that day i went to the gym, showered, then checked into the hospital! I felt great during both pregs. with both i was small (especially w/#1) but gained 28-30lbs w/each.

Hello everyone, I am in the 26th week of my pregnancy and am still trying to maintain somewhat of an exercise routine. Before pregnancy I kept in shape with cardio classes and running. As my pregnancy progressed I felt more comfortable with jogging and low impact step aerobics. As I enter my 3rd trimester I may have to cut back on the jogging. I am carrying my baby very low and the pressure on my bladder is unbareable. I stop to pee, but nothing comes out and I still am in pain. I am going to have to change my routine to walking and riding a stationary bike. I'm just happy I was able to maintain my fitness routine to this point.

Hi Mary and all exercisers,

I'm 9.5 weeks pg now. Before becoming pregnant, I tried to exercise at least 5 times per week, either through biking, jogging, hiking, and yoga. I have definitely noticed an increase in my heart rate and a lack of motivation :) I've still been to yoga once a week and hiking once a week, but the informal ride/jog has definitely slowed. Maybe it has something to do with the time of year? Daylight savings is sad. Darkness by 5 pm is far too early!

Mary, reading that you felt your first labor was affected by lack of exercise is pushing me out the door in about 5 minutes! even if just for a walk with the dogs...

Douce so glad I could motivate you! I need motivation sometimes too. My running has turned in to mostly walking as fast as I can. Though today I was able to run for about 1/2 the time. I took two days off this week, very unlike me but I am 32 1/2 weeks. I guess it's time to slow down a bit. I love that people are responding now. And yes I hear you Douce, it's hard with daylight savings time, it makes it that much harder! Keep it up all!!!

I'm glad to see I am not alone when it comes to having to slow down a bit. I am now 28 weeks and this weekend I made an attempt to jog an 11 minute mile and had to stop. I slowed down to a 12 minute mile and could not do that either. I think my baby is starting to drop down quite a bit and the pressure becomes painful when I jog. A friend of mine is 32 weeks and is still running like a champ! I don't know how she does it, but I guess everyone of our bodies is different.

Hi everyone... I am newly pregnant with DC4. I would not say that I am an avid runner, but I do try and get out as often as I can. During the summer, DH and I worked our kids up to 10km 3x a week. When school started, DH and I had less time and went down to 5km 3x a week. Now that I am pg, I find myself getting out of breath really quickly. The fact that the weather is colder and the light is less adds to the problem! I am hoping I will be able to keep up some form of jogging, as I ran steady until 4 months with my last baby and then picked it up again at about 7 months. (I had spotting issues and had to stop). Anyway... sorry for the ramble... but I do enjoy reading all your stories. Makes me feel better! :) All the best!

Just and update, I'm 37 weeks and am so beat! I'm lucky if i can do yoga lately..between my 21 month old and cleaning, cooking, etc, on most days I don't have it in me to work out. I have only been like this for about a week or 2. I was doing well before, running became walking but I still use light weights and try to maintain somewhat of a routine. When I do work out I end up getting some pretty intense contractions which make it hard to run after my toddler...so needless to say I have slowed a bit...but i'm listening to my body...it's saying take a break i guess.

I am so glad to see people are running and prego! I was a little nervous to do so, but I feel better about it now. Thanks.

Mary,
I am a running addict! I tried out for the Olympic Marathon Team last April. So I ran a ton of miles - 80- 100 miles per week to prepare for that marathon and a fall marathon that I did this Oct. I have greatly cut back on mileage and the intensity of my runs. I check my heart rate as well to make sure I am not exceeding 130. I have not had my first doctor's visit, but I believe I am 7-8 weeks pregnant. I do have to take bathroom breaks, but it's usually b/c I am constipated until I get the bowels moving on my runs. My family believes that I am still running too much. How is your pregnancy going? Do you have any advice for me? I am really nervous about my first pregnancy and keep praying for a healthy baby.

I'm so glad to see that there are other pregnant runners out there. I am in my 7th week of pregnancy. Prepregnancy, I was running 4mi about 5 times a week and lifting 1/2 hour after that. My doctor said I could continue my regular routine. I decided to slow down just a little and also stop at 3 miles instead of four. I spotted very lightly yesterday. Then today, I just walked and still spotted. My ultrasound is scheduled for Thursday, so I guess I will quit exercising until then and ask the doctor at that time what I need to do. If everything is okay, I'm crossing my fingers that I can continue running. I'll go insane without that release!!! Has anybody has a similar experience with spotting and running?

I went to the doctor yesterday (about 6 weeks) and the ultrasound showed a fetal heartbeat. Yea!!! But I'm still spotting. Mostly brown, but more now. The doctor said no sex and no running for a week. We'll have to see after that. Again, anybody out there with similar experience-running and spotting? It is only happening after any type of exercise (even just walking).