How hard are you exercising (and at what week)?

[huggingmama]

How hard are you exercising (and at what week)?

I wasn't a huge exerciser before pregnancy, but I was rowing 2-3x a week until I got pg. But that was a recent thing, and I have never been super-fit, so I'm trying to figure out how cautious to be while pg. Now that the first trimester is over and I don't feel like puking all the time, I've started up again. Did 1.5 hours tonight and it felt great, but I'm worried about pushing myself too much and getting hurt. (There's also lifting and such to worry about, but I'm taking it easy on that.)

So... can I get a sense of what you all do with a few questions?

How much do you exercise now? (time, how often each week, what do you do)
How fit were you before you got pg? (How does your current routine compare to what you did or didn't do before?)
How did you (or will you) adjust as your pregnancy progresses?

Thanks!

[Sobranna]

I'm only at 6 weeks, and I'm just trying to keep up with my previous routine, which was admittedly not very strenuous: pilates once a week, elliptical or walks 2-3 times a week. When I work out, I'm just attentive to how I feel, and make sure not to overwork (ie keeping heart rate below 140). Given my schedule, I probably won't change much over the next eight months, except to try to get into a pilates class designed for mothers-to-be.

I'd love to hear what other mamas have to say!

[colleen2851]

I exercise at the gym 4 days a week. 3 of those days, I take step. The other day, I either lift or take Will Grace & Power. I've toned it down from pre-pregnancy but I still do it, and plan on continuing until labor!

As for the 140 rule, that's pretty archaic. You should work out based on the RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion). Keep it about a 6 to 7 based on a 1 to 10 scale. You'll know what is too much and what is OK. Just make sure you can carry on a conversation.

[somegirl99]

Still doing 3-4 miles of hilly walking almost every day with my dogs.

I am still bicycling but far less distance/intensity than I used to.

I am still doing some weights but much lighter and in some cases modified exercises.

I am doing much more in terms of kegels and transverse ab exercises.

I don't check my heart rate but just make sure I can carry on a conversation, as colleen suggests.

[BreakfastyMichele]

I'm 28/29 weeks pregnant with my second.

I swim 2-4 times a week, a mile each time.
I bike 1-2 miles a couple times a week now that it's spring (no bike trailer, though. My husband attached it to his bike for now.)
I walk at least 1.5 miles every day. . .some days at much as 3 or 4 (depending on how many times we go to the park.)

This is pretty much what I did last spring, though I was then VERY regular about my swimming. I swam 3-4 miles a week. It's only in the last few weeks that I've worked myself back up to a mile at each swim. The first trimester, I was only swimming half-miles because I was so tired. By mid-March I was back to miles for most of my visits to the pool. I also biked a couple miles nearly every day last summer: to play groups, to the park, to friends' houses. My kid just LOVES the bike trailer, so I was in pretty good shape.

Thanks for asking. Typing it out makes me feel less lazy!

Oh, also, I chase a toddler all day.

[huggingmama]

You mamas are awesome! Thanks to all who have posted so far! If you didn't already, let us know how "fit" you were pre-pregnancy so I can put some of these numbers in perspective.

[Redheaded_Momma]

Pre-pg I worked out 1-2x/week doing exercise videos (15 min-1h) which may include strength training and cardio and walked 1-3miles 1-2x/week. Belly dance 1-2hours/week

Now I *maybe* do 15-30minutes exercise 1-2 week and 1-2 15minute walks with my dog. I'll do a prenatal yoga video 1-2x/month. Maintaining weekly belly dance class but I have found that some of the moves are not good for my growing body. I definitely tire out a lot sooner than I would pre-pg.

I absolutely love the Gabrielle Reece Prenatal work-out video. It has work-outs designed for each month of each trimester.

[leavemealone]

I am still doing circuit training about 2-3 time per week and I am 39 weeks pregnant. I don't do all the machines, but I do most of them. Otherwise, I am doing my best to walk at least a mile a couple times per week as well. I don't always succeed, but I try to fit in the walking.

[Beltane]

We have a small farm so my exercise is doing chores. Up until a few weeks ago I was hauling and cutting wood for the wood stoves on a daily basis in addition to taking care of the chickens, geese and turkeys. My midwife said exercise is one of the most important things, so I'm just continuing to do what I always did. I'm 24 weeks.

[expat-mama]

I'm 29 weeks now. Before I found out I was pregnant I was running and training for marathon then morning sickness and fatigue hit as well as being advised to take it easy due to a SCH and everything came to a grinding halt.

At about 14 weeks I started exercising again- since then I've been doing prenatal yoga 4-5 times a week for an hour, brisk walking a few kilometres 4-5 times a week, swimming laps maybe once a week and generally being busy and on my feet most of the time.

[tnh2007]

Hello mamas!
I ran a 1/2 marathon last summer before I got pregnant. Then I cut down my running to 3-6 miles 3 or 4 days a week, plus weight training. Now I'm at 30 weeks and I'm running 2.5-3 miles 4-5 days a week plus some weight training. I'm slow, but still enjoying getting out there. For me I try to listen to my body and and not push too hard...

[BlackSheepPDX]

Originally Posted by huggingmama

How hard are you exercising (and at what week)?

I wasn't a huge exerciser before pregnancy, but I was rowing 2-3x a week until I got pg. But that was a recent thing, and I have never been super-fit, so I'm trying to figure out how cautious to be while pg. Now that the first trimester is over and I don't feel like puking all the time, I've started up again. Did 1.5 hours tonight and it felt great, but I'm worried about pushing myself too much and getting hurt. (There's also lifting and such to worry about, but I'm taking it easy on that.)

So... can I get a sense of what you all do with a few questions?

How much do you exercise now? (time, how often each week, what do you do)
How fit were you before you got pg? (How does your current routine compare to what you did or didn't do before?)
How did you (or will you) adjust as your pregnancy progresses?

Thanks!

Rowing, yay! I am a competitive rower when not pregnant, and was rowing 3x a week, plus at least one day of cross training of some sort. I'm also a Certified Athletic Trainer, so my business is sports medicine, and I did my homework about what was safe to do. And that 140 HR is totally archaic and irrelevant! The main issue is with overheating, which is more relevant in warmer climates and early in pregnancy. In general, common sense, and exercising in ways that feel good are enough of a guideline.

During my first pregnancy, 3 years ago, I stayed pretty small for a LONG time, and didn't have any significant issues with physical limitations for a long time. I continued my rowing and training as normal, stopping actually ROWING at about 20 weeks because my tummy got big enough that it would be in the way and also that I was concerned that if i caught a crab, I could potentially hit the baby once she got so big. I continued doing erg work, running, stairs, even including higher HRs, well into my third trimester. I ran a 5K race at 28 weeks. I think I finally gave up on running around 35 weeks. I did yoga 3x week through 41 weeks, doing a normal vinyasa practice all three days until around 30 weeks or so, when I switched one of my days ot a prenatal practice. I just spread my legs wider or turned the opposite direction. I wasn't lifting weights for training at the time, but I was certainly lifting lots of other things in my daily life and not concerning myself about it.

This time, the timing of our winter off season and my morning sickness had me doing very little for most of the first trimester, and I've been doing stairs and jogging/trail running a little as able during the second. I rowed at 18 weeks in a scrimmage, but I'm too big to do any more sweep rowing. I'm currently 23 weeks. I've had some trouble with my SI jt loosening up this time, and that has slowed me down, too. I'm trying to find ways to exercise that feel good. I'll be getting into doing my yoga again, and trying to walk/hike more than anything this time, as I'm feeling a bit more fragile with the joint looseness. If not for that, I'd be a full go as far as activity. I'm actually feeling really frustrated because I WANT to exercise a lot more, but I'm just really stiff and more awkward than I'd like.