Working out while pregnant

Hello Ladies, I was wondering if most of you are still working out while pregnant. With my 1st one I was kind of nervous so I just completely stopped working out? DUMB. Anyway this time around I want to make sure that I only gain what is neccessary I just get a little nervous when I am working out that I can hurt the baby. I have read a couple different websites where they say it's find as long as you stay under 140 for your heart rate, which if u ask me is almost impossible. I do a lot of indoor cycling and am not to sure if that is just to much heavy core cardio. Any opinions or suggestions ladies?

I was actually wondering the same thing. I didn't really work out last time either, but this time I have been doing a lot of walking and other light activity. Except I was also think about doing my elliptical, too, but don't know if that would be too much or not? How far along are you salsa?

I took 2 hours of dance a week (ballet and tap, high level) and I continued to kickbox until my 5th month.  I stopped kickboxing because my uterus would tighten up and stay that way so I felt it was time to take a break.  I even kept running until my 5th or 6th month.

I didn't worry about my heart rate and I didn't read too much into it.  Coming from a dance background I had plenty of people before me who danced up until they delivered. 

Exercise is healthy, its good for you and your baby and as long as you listen to your body.  If it makes you uncomfortable then stop. 

Best of luck to all of you.  Its important to keep moving!!!  When all else fails, take walks and stretch.

Oh, and I just delivered my 4th kid so I have a "little" experience

I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant and I still work out. Nothing strenuous though. I walk my 7 yr. old to school every morning (abt 1/2 mile) and 3x a wk I take a water aroebics class. My dr said it was okay as long as I've done it since day 1. But let me tell ya, everyone is different. I kept working out to only gain the necessary weight and I'm gaining alot more.

I'm almost 22 weeks and I'm still working out 3 times a week.  I go to indoor cycling class two times a week.  My doctor told me that it was fine as long as I wasn't starting a new program.  I also talked to the trainer at my gym because I had heard about keeping your heart rate under 140 while pregnant.  She told me that was an old guideline and they now recommend around 158 if you're in good shape.  Mind gets above that sometimes, but I don't let it stay above that for too long.  I've also been walking/running outside with my son.  I really need to get more consistent about it all, but I've been working out pretty intensely this whole time and haven't had any problems.

"They" (who is they anyway) say that as long as you did it before and haven't stopped, you can safely continue. I'm fifteen weeks along now and I wish I wasn't so tired during my first trimester to keep up! Now getting back into a light routine is brutal! I try to do a pregnancy workout dvd at least twice per week and another cc'er has recently shipped me a prenatal yoga dvd which I can't wait to do! This on top of walking when it's not so hot (hey, I'm in FL!).

Also, our bodies are wonderful creations... it will tell you when you're over doing it!!! This is my third and the first time I've been more mindful of my body. I hope to see a significant difference.

Hi ladies,

  I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I've been walking for at least 45mins 5 days a week.  And it really makes me feel better to get out and do something.  Before I was pregnant I would go to the gym 5 days a week (do the eliptical, aerobics classes, weights, etc) but since I sit at a desk all day long I need to get out and do something so at lunch time I walk.

Hi!

I'm new to this thread, but I just wanted to say that I'm a spinning (indoor cycling) fiend too, and my teacher (who's a Master Instructor) said to keep the HR below 140. It's really difficult! I know it might be old fashioned, but I figured I'd play it safe until the end of the first trimester (I'm only six weeks along) and ask my doc what to do afterwards.

I just recently found out I am pregnant.  It is my plan to continue running.  I was running on a treadmill 5x/week for 30 minutes w/ an incline at 6 miles per hour - and it would get my heart rate going. 

Now, I am a little scare about the running and the last week I have cut down my running to 5.5 miles per hour w/ no incline.  I am still sweating like crazy but I am not that out of breath. 

Anybody else continue to run throughout pregancy?  I enjoy running and have been doing this now for about 5 months to lose weight, which I did, 35 pounds.  I went from 180 to 145 till I got pregnant.  Would love to hear any advice.   

Wow, I was wondering exactly this.  I love running but I have been doing it on and off.  I also like step classes.  I'm about 17 weeks and I don't feel physically bad but I was just nervous about doing a lot of bouncing around.  I only gained about 2 lbs in the first trimester, but now I feel really bloated and I want to work out.  Would also love to hear advice.

Thanks,

Swimming is really safe, and will keep you in shape throughout pregnancy.

i asked my doc before i got pregnant, and she said i could continue judo till it was uncomfortable, but once i found out, i just couldn't.  it is a full contact martial art, and i would feel terrible if something happened.  so i have been trying to pick up the pace at the gym to make up for dumping judo, but so far, i haven't been able to add workouts, it is all i can do to make it to the 2 a week i had been doing.  i have been exausted and my stamina is low.  it is frustrating because i know i have lost 3, 2+ hour strenuous workouts and i can feel my strength ebbing.  but i am still going, and i still hope to bump it up if my body lets me...

I'm in the middle of week 12 right now and have been running the whole way through my pregnancy.  I've lowered my intensity and check my heart rate once in a while and everything has been fine.  The doctors and nurses who I've seen have okayed it so I plan on continuing unless there's a problem or it just doesn't feel good anymore.  I'm running 5 days a week and getting in around 30 miles, though I plan on dropping that to 4 days a week and 25+ miles after I get through my half marathon on February 1.  It definitely does feel different though, running while pregnant!

everything that has been said so far is right. if you do NOT have any complications, then as long as you were working out before you got pregnant, then it should be fine. just be aware of how you're feeling during and after work outs.

i taught and took dance classes (ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop) 4 nights a week until i was about 5 months pregnant. i quit temporarily because my husband and i got in a car accident, and then i lost touch with the studio owner for a little while with everything that was going on. i regret quitting SO much now! i'm in horrible shape, and i feel awful!

once you really start getting the baby belly, you might think about toning it down if you do high-impact activities. when you have a watermelon sticking out in front of you it's tough to run and do things like that!

I've been working out steadily since I got pregnant. 23 weeks along now. I lift weights on circuit machines three times a week and do a lot of elliptical and swimming. I've been having a very healthy pregnancy and I find that if I skip days of working out I feel worse the next... more soreness in my back and stomach and more blah feeling.

That being said, I sure do get SCANDALOUS looks for going to the gym, or when I tell people I've been working out. I just tell them I have my doctor's approval, that I'm very careful to isolate specific muscle groups, and that it makes me feel better...

I am measuring ahead, at around 26 or 27 weeks though, so I bought a belly support/back support. I am carrying low and it makes me much more comfortable while walking fast, doing light jogging or elliptical. I have also gained 24 lbs already, which is discouraging... but at least I feel good and my baby is moving a ton and has a healthy heartrate.

This is my first child. But I really feel like the healthier mom is, the healthier the baby is going to be. Our bodies were meant to be able to handle these changes; as long as you ease into whatever routine you're doing and don't push yourself too much you will be fine and better for it in the end.

I'm 33 weeks and I'm still working out. I walk as much as I can. 3-5x a week I do our elliptical for 20 minutes. Then I do 2 sets of each: sitting squats while raising 3lb dumbells over head (15 reps), pliea (spelling?? balllet move) squats while raising 3lb dumbells to sides, shoulder height (15 reps), pregnancy pushups (15 reps), hands and knees opposite arm opposite leg extended  (5 on each side). Then I stretch.

1/week I do prenatal yoga. I'ld like to up that as well. It hasn't changed the weight gain. But, this is my second pregnancy and I feel SO much more agile, mobile, strong, flexible. I am really surprised at how much better I feel.

there are so many recommendations by experts but at the end of the day its our bodies telling us when things are too much.

I am a 40 year old first time mum and 13 weeks and I cycle every day to work, that's 1.5 hours and it feels great. I will start yoga next weel as well. Unfortunately, I nevertheless have gained 5 kilo :-(

i was exhausted my first trimester and stopped working out. i haven't really picked it up since. although i just try to be active during the day, in general. i'm a kindergarten teacher so they always keep me on my toes.

i'm five months in and have only gained for four or five pounds, so i'm not too worried, although i do hear staying active can quicken delivery.

so maybe once fall comes around i'll start waddling around the park with my husband and our dogs.