A friend of mine recently got pregnant after trying for a while... she's in great shape and always works out, doing intense cardio and weight training. Given that she's newly pregnant (she just found out!), I think this is a good time for her to cut down or slow down on the intensity of the weights, cardio, and the amount of crunches/ab workouts she is doing? I'm not so sure for her, but she say she can still do it for a few months. What do you think? What's ok/not okay to do once you are preggers? Is intense cardio ok? Weight training (10-15 lb weights)? Ab workouts?
She's also considering biking for a few days on some beautiful trails with her husband. Is that safe? She's always been biking but never been pregnant.
I think I'm more nervous about her than she is! Would love any thoughts you have, so I can bring them back to her.
THanks,
Svetlana
I think she needs to ask her doctor. Everybody is different, every pregnancy is different too. My sil was horseback riding 6 months pregnant. I was a high risk pregnancy and stuck with an aquafit class and walking throughout the whole thing. I had a young, healthy friend who was on bed rest for 4 months. Everyone's different!
The fears you mentioned are actually myths. Most exercise is not only fine but strongly encouraged while pregnant. An ab workout is not going to hurt baby (baby will not be squished because mom is doing crunches), and I really have no idea where the idea came that pregnant moms can't lift items heavier than 15 pounds. Maybe because that's often the case for a few weeks postpartum?
Encourage her to discuss this with her OB and be very open about the types of exercise she does, but in most healthy pregnancies the mom-to-be is not restricted.
This really should be a discussion she has with her doctor.
Generally, one can continue the same exercise she did prior to pregnancy once she is in fact pregnant. Starting a new exercise routine while pregnant is usually not recommended. HOWEVER, there are, of course, exceptions. If she feels at all lightheaded, tired, etc, she needs to give herself a break. I always ran 4 miles every other day prior to pregnancy. Once pregnant, I definitely cut down, but I just listened to my body and did what it told me to do (or not to do).
Usually docs tell you biking is a no-no once you are bigger, as you risk falling off of the bike.
I hesitate to say this, but tell her to use common sense.
Again, she really should be talking with her doctor. Only he or she knows whether your friend can continue with her routines. Plus, why do you think it would change her mind just because your mamapedia friends told you something different?
As the others have said, she should talk with her midwife/doctor. My midwives encouraged me to stay active. I remember having days that I needed to nap more than work out, but I was running up to five miles cross-country (hilly dirt paths) into my seventh month. And I was 41 at the time.
In the end, her activities are her decision.
I was told to listen to my body. If I had a work-out regime before pregnancy and I felt ok while excersizing, then it was ok. But, if it felt too intense, or I had pain, I should back off. I agree that this conversation is best coming from her OBGYN. But, my midwife said it was ok for me to ride horses during my pregnancy, if I felt comfortable and willing. That shocked me, frankly. I didn't, because it made me too nervous, but a bike would be about the same thing, even less risky.
Just asked my midwife for myself. She said no new workouts, nothing overly intense or jarring. No abs after 12 weeks.
She really should speak with her doctor/midwife or an exercise professional for specific information on workouts and intensity and specific exercises that are considered okay at each stage of pregnancy, but exercise IS beneficial when pregnant. As for bike riding, if she's very early, it should be fine but your sense of balance changes in pregnancy so activities like biking that require balance need to be done consistently, nearly every day, or not sporadically or on occasion when pregnant.
I always heard not to do anything "new" as far as exercise. As long as its normal for her, she can keep the same level for now...slowing down as needed...but best to check with her Dr. of course.
It's not necessarily good to start a brand new exercise routine, but if she's been doing these exercises all along, it should be okay to continue, especially is she's already in great shape. Continuing and keeping in good shape can help her delivery and will help her recover faster post delivery. Of course, she should also double check with her doctor.
I agree with the other answers. Her doctor should be the one to answer this question. My doctor told me I could continue with my current exercise routine as long as I felt well enough, was comfortable while exercising and there were no complications. I shouldn't start any new exercise routines or increase the intensity of my workouts during my pregnancy.
