Crossfit while preggo?

[littleliz]

My first ever crossfit workout was the morning of Feb 18, 2011... also, later that day (after my first exercise) my body was overheated and I had some spotting. (Never had that in my life, ever.) I found out yesterday I am preggo. My last cycle started Feb 8th... making me possibly pregnant the day I started crossfit.

I am wondering if there are any crossfit mamas here that could chime in on my situation? I was basically not exercising at all before I started crossfit... but I really don't want to stop. In fact, now more than ever I want to build my strength for labor (hah). 

Anyway... I will talk to my trainer next week about it, but I am pretty sure I'd be the first pregnant lady at the box. I hope he is willing to still work with me. If it's safe. 

Anyone else out there dealing (or have dealt) with something like this?

[Jayray]

You're supposed to keep your heartrate relatively low in pregnancy when exercising--I think below 140.  I'm not sure you'd be able to do that with crossfit.  Pregnancy takes a lot from you body.  Not to say that you shouldn't exercise, but I think something intense like crossfit would be too much.  I would talk to your midwife/OB once you get one.

[SGVaughn]

the heart rate thing has been debunked actually...but thats not relevant here

if you were doing crossfit before you conceived that would be one thing...you could continue (I continued HIIT with OB blessing until my pelvis couldn't take it) but because youre new to it and by nature of crossfit you're going to have to find something else thats a little more slow and steady..

I would talk to your trainer about sticking to some basic circuit training for now..my weight lifting was only modified from using free weights to using machines to keep the movements really controlled and using the ergo instead of jogging for cardio...up until my house burned down that is....

if your trainer drops you find another one or look for a good program online instead...try some of the fitness sites for info

[lifeguard]

I agree with SGVaughn. The heartrate thing is totally irrelevant & outdated but it is generally recommended not to start something new in pregnancy & crossfit is pretty intense. I would definitely talk to the trainer & see if there is a lighter program you can follow & plan to start the crossfit after the baby arrives. And really when it comes right down to it it's the stress on your body that is the concern not for the baby. Exercise does not put you at risk for miscarriage, unless there is something unusual going on.

I'm a powerlifter & will lift throughout my pregnancy BUT I was already doing that before I got pregnant. I can only imagine taking it up while pregnant would be really hard on my body.

[littleliz]

Thank you so much for all of the advice!

I am going to talk with my trainer this week and see what he says. He may very well tell me to come back after the pregnancy. But I hope we can work something out so that I can continue to work on my strength-building during the pregnancy. That is what I am most concerned about... of course I will be listening to my body along the way.

It is definitely a relief to know that the concern is for me and my body vs. the development of the baby. Actually that is a HUGE relief. 

All in all... I will talk to both my Dr and trainer and see what they say. I really appreciate all of your input! :D 

[Stayseeliz]

I was doing intense HIIT and weight lifting until I got pregnant. I went to a modified weight lifting/walking/kickboxing/elliptical routine up until the day I went into preterm labor at 29w. It's totally doable to be fit and active during pregnancy but listen to your body. I decided to stop the HIIT workouts right away since I has a history of m/c. It was just for my own piece of mind. I can't wait to get back into it once the baby is born!

[kareniswaiting]

You all might already know this, but there is a pregnant crossfit site with modifications for each trimester and based on whether you started crossfit before or after you were pregnant. http://www.crossfitmom.com/