Exercise while pregnant?

Heyy everyone!

I just found out 2 days ago that we're expecting our first. yayyy! <3<3<3
i was just wondering, what is an appropriate amount of exercise & what should i avoid?

also: what are your views on prenatal yoga?

I'm also pregnant with my first.  I was a HUGE runner, but since I had a miscarriage one month prior to this pregnancy I stopped.  My OB said that whatever you were doing before your pregnancy you could continue.  Now is not the time to start any thing you were not conditioned to do already.  I believe prenatal yoga classes/dvds are fine and swimming is great.  Hope that helps.  Also, walking you can start anytime.  I've been walking 4 miles (1hr) 6 days a week along with lighter weights then I used to do.  :)  Hope this helps a bit. 

Congratulations!  You will definitely want to run the exercise question by your doctor/midwife as a lot of what you do in pregnancy depends on what you were doing before.  I have not done prenatal yoga, but I've heard great things about it from friends in terms of stretching, focus, relaxing, and getting the chance to meet other moms.

My personal experience (I'm 31 weeks tomorrow with my first baby) has been that my exercise routine has stayed very similar to what I was doing before getting pregnant, including running 25-30 miles a week, lifting weights, and cross training on the elliptical or bike.  This is with a normal pregnancy with a fairly high fitness level beforehand and has been cleared by my doctor. 

Do avoid eating too little, getting dehydrated, and letting your body overheat.  Be sure to monitor your exertion as well... if you can't carry on a conversation while doing your workout you need to slow down.  Be careful to listen to your body when it tells you that it's tired or sore or if you feel nauseous.  And again, be sure to get things cleared by your doctor or midwife.  They should have lots of information for you!  

Congratulations on your new adventure!

thnx both of you for your help!
im very scared about my calorie intake. im not purposefully [is that a word?] restricting my intake... its just yesterday i ate maybe 800cals by 7pm. & i think it went to like 1200 by 8 because my husband gave me a huge plate of spaghetti.

am i eating too little?

Yes, you're eating too little. At this point (and throughout your first trimester) you should be eating no less than your maintainence calories. During your second and third trimester, you only need an additional 150-300 calories daily. Your doctor will discuss this with you when you have your first appointment.

My doctor also told me to continue with the exercise level I had before pregnancy. You should always check with them before starting an exercise program, especially when pregnant.

I did prenatal yoga while pregnant and it made me feel great!

Yes!!  Exercise!  I kept up what I was doing (cardio, weight training) until about 38 weeks.  Then I just got too big and decided that I wanted a break.  I still walk (now I'm at 41 weeks... yaaaaaay).  I can't tell you how much it has helped my pregnancy: no weird mood swings, energy, feeling like even though I'm gaining weight I'm still healthy.  I love exercise and can not imagine nine months without.

Talk to your midwife/OB just to get the green light but they'll tell you that you can do whatever you were doing before pregnancy.  And then do it -- it's good for you and it's also really good for your baby.

Excercise during pregnancy also helps you lose the weight faster after pregnancy and helps you recover faster - after having 3 - I would not go through pregnancy without exercising!!

Congrats!

I worked out until day before dd was born.  I was in the gym on treadmill, spinning, yoga, swimming and lifting weights until 8.5mths pg.  But then dh opened our pool so the last part of my pregnancy was swimming & water workouts at home.  If you take yoga (not specifically prenatal) make sure to tell instructor, because you will be given alternate poses for some poses

If you work out now...do what you're doing.  You will have to pay more attention to your body and not let yourself get dehydrated (helped bring on braxton hick contractions for me).  Don't push too hard though.  Eat properly & Exercise!  It absolutely helps w/ delivery and recovery process.  I was lucky to only have about 5lb to lose after dd was born.  I was also bouncing off the walls at home and got the green light from doc to start water work outs & swimming w/ in a week after delivery.

Good luck

thnx to everyone who's responded! i know i havent written back & i'm rly sry. been busy with my job. :/
anywayy!

i'm on a "no strenuous activities" thing. my heart rate increases too much & then i can't breathe... so i havent done any exercises.. no dancing either! that parts killing me the most! i use to go line dancing twice a week. i LOVE it! but now i cant because im at risk of blacking out & not breathing which will stop the flow of oxygen to the baby. :[ poopoo.

i see my ob on wednesday.. maybe i can get some alternate exercise regimns going or something that won't increase my heart rate too bad. especially since it goes up when im sedentary too!

but, i'm still losing weight. 3months pregnant & lower than my starting weight when i first joined.

Exercise is heaven during pregnancy!  But as everyone says you HAVE to listen to your body, hydrate twice as much as before, and eat enough calories to not run a defecient.  Your metabolism is higher than normal during pregnancy (at least mine was) so I had to increase the calories to not lose weight, just pay attention to the scale.

I am an athlete and was told that since I was active before I could continue doing the same thing, just listen to my body and also not overheat.  I am 35 weeks and workout 7 days a week, spinning classes, elliptical, uphill walking, and lifting weights.  BUT I drink loads of water and eat very healthy to replace the calories.  So far I have only gained 18 to 20 pounds but my baby is actually a quarter pound heavier than the average.  I had no mood swings, no sickness, and seriously an easy pregnancy and I strongly believe working out has helped me, that and being healthy BEFORE I was pregnant made a huge difference.

The woman who won the NY City marathon 6 months after delivery ran the morning before she gave birth.  BUT my one of my spinning buddies was exactly like me and had to quit at 7 months due to complications, just listen to your body.  OH and it was mentioned before and it happened to me, if you do not dehydrate yourself you will have contractions, that is a warning sign to drink up, just try to never get there!