exercise

how many of you are exercising regularly? I was in a really good workout routine before I got pregnant this time, and I told myself that this pregnancy I would work out the whole time and stay active. Then I actually GOT pregnant and rememebered how exhausted and sick I get, and well....I haven't worked out a day since finding out I was pregnant. Now that I'm feeling a little better in terms of morning sickness, I'm getting big enough that just walking hurts!! Have I missed the boat on exercising? Does it REALLY help? Is that just what "fit pregnancy" magazine wants you to think? Most days I don't feel like folding the laundry, let alone walking for miles. What is your opinion on the matter?

Reyna

 

how many of you are exercising regularly? I was in a really good workout routine before I got pregnant this time, and I told myself that this pregnancy I would work out the whole time and stay active. Then I actually GOT pregnant and rememebered how exhausted and sick I get, and well....I haven't worked out a day since finding out I was pregnant. Now that I'm feeling a little better in terms of morning sickness, I'm getting big enough that just walking hurts!! Have I missed the boat on exercising? Does it REALLY help? Is that just what "fit pregnancy" magazine wants you to think? Most days I don't feel like folding the laundry, let alone walking for miles. What is your opinion on the matter?

Reyna

 

If it's something that you were doing pre-pregnancy you should be fine to continue doing it. However, starting something new during pregnancy isn't the best idea. Since it's been about 5 months since you were that active, I would consult your Dr before you start up again.

 

Exercise??? I'm too tired to excerise. Most days it seems I'm about too tired to get out of the bed. LOL>

 

I exercised - although I modified my routine to be walking and swimming (vs. spinning and having a personal trainer) until the dr. put me on modified bed rest at 25 weeks.

Miriam

 

Um... no. No exercise here. I had planned on it, but by the time I got over the misery of morning sickness I was too out of breath to do anything. Now I am big and clumsy and my hand hurts from carpal tunnel all of the time, so it just isn't going to happen!
If you talk to your doctor, I'm sure he'll have some good suggestions as to what you can do. And good for you for even thinking about exercise!!!
Helen

 

The spirit is willing but the body is weak I used to exercise a lot in the early weeks of my pregnancy. But i stopped after a bleeding scare @ 16 weeks and bouts of BH contractions weeks after till now. Besides, talking on the phone and having nasal stuffiness is enough to leave me out of breath.

 

Oh Phew!! At least I'm not the only one who gets out of breath just thinking about exercising. I think grocery shopping and unloading said groceries should count as exercise. Along with showering, getting dressed and filling the car with gas. I will just plan to adopt that as my new exercise routine. For those of you with enough energy to exercise daily..I'm envious and proud!!

Reyna

 

Hi Reyna,
I was in the same situation -very sick - barely getting out of bed for 15 weeks. Then I felt better and started walking and I feel much better. I think the key is not trying to tackle too much. Maybe just get outside for a few minutes at a time. Try to walk for 5 minutes in the morning, 5 at lunch and 5 in the evening. Just do what you feel like - even that small amount will make you feel better and give you MORE energy. I know it sounds crazy - but I promise you'll feel better.
Aimee

 

Before i got pregnant, i was a total gym rat - 4-5 days a week, heavy cardio, weight training. Then I got pregnant and WHAM - it was like getting hit with a truck. I could barely last on an elliptical for 15 minutes without panting and wheezing. It was awful, and I felt terrible, so i doubted I was doing the babies (or me) any good and stopped. A friend of mine who had twins was told by her doctor to do as little as possible whenever possible - her doc said physical activity just took blood away from the babies to feed the pumping muscles. I don't know much about that, but I know what I felt and what I felt was that I needed to REST, and give up the gym for a few months. There will be time later to get back into it (or so I think, twin mommies - don't tell me otherwise!!!).

 

chasing my 2 yr old is more than enough exercise for me.

 

Typically work out 3-4days I week.
I swore I'd exercise throughout my pregnancy, that was before I got pregnant. I am 19weeks and just starting taking short walks a couple weeks ago. I keep thinking I will do prenatal yoga but I don't even think I'm up for it. I am over the guilt though and like relaxing! Enjoy.

 

Thanks for starting this post. My doctor suggested I start exercising in the 1st trimester, which SO wasn't going to happen with m/s. Now that I get bursts of energy every so often and more than a few hours of sleep a night I'm feeling adventurous (although out of breath), so maybe I will just try the quick little walks while I still think I can.

 

Hi all!

Exercise, well....

I love walking, but lately when I go for a walk I get terribly out of breath!!
I have to stop a couple of times during the walk, but then when I get home..oh boy!! I feel totally knackered!!
Then the next day I feel rather unwell..and it's not like I'm pushing myself or overdoing it..

Any ideas why this could be happening? I'm gonna ask my doctor when I see him again..

Denise

 

Oh my goodness...no excercise here! I was in excellent shape during my pregnancy with DD...I walked/jogged a lot. I think it really did help my pregnancy and my delivery. The nurses/midwife were very impressed and kept asking where I took lamaze classes (had no pain meds). Anyway, this time is extremely different...and really I would say 'most' twin pregnancies are. I've had lots of contractions already and am on modified bed rest, so excercise is out of the question. I think it's also different when you have twins sharing a placenta. But I see yours are fraternal. I think if you're able to do some excercise it's okay, as long as it's not for too long and not too strenuous. You don't want to be taking away the blood supply to your uterus. Any excercise brings blood to the muscles you're using and away from the uterus. I say do what you feel comfortable with but listen to your body.

 

I am completely in your boat; started the preg in pretty good shape, lots of biking, weights, yoga....then WHAM, four months of puking and feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.

Now that i feel better, i try to do stuff but- as pp's have said, just walking up one flight of stairs has me winded, and often after grocery shopping or running errands I am so wiped out I have to lie down. I'd pay really close attention to what your body is telling you - remembering that the editors of Fit Pregnancy have likely NOT done the research or gone through a twin preg. Frankly, just the amount of blood that your heart has to pump through your body when your SITTING DOWN takes effort.

Also, according to the famous DR. Luke, not only does exercising take blood from the babies, but using the gross mucles (especially quads), stimulates the production of something that can induce contractions/labor, so - that's something to keep in mind as well. I totally envy those who are able to keep up their program, but for me it's going to have to be what little I CAN do (trying to get my butt back into the local pool, though, just to get the weight off my lower back for a little while!)

 

I just dont have the energy to get in my car to go to the gym, let alone exercise. Lately getting out of the chair leaves me breathless!! I too had a membership to the gym and went there 5 times a week. But that seems like a very distant memory. I try to walk around my block sometimes but my other kids keep me busy. I do buy fit pregnancy but i just dont have the energy to do any of the things they suggest. It is for singleton moms anyway. And i dont feel guilty either

 

I appreciate all the replies! I don't read fit pregnancy except when I'm in the waiting room at my ob's office, and then I come across those insane articles about jogging while pregnant, and think to myself, "who ARE those people???" So, it's a huge relief to hear the majority of you are in a similar boat. There's a time and place for everything, right? I think for me, the time to exercise is at some point in the future after I've got these kids out!

Reyna

 

I have struggled with being an obsessive gym/exersize rat for years. Now, pregnant with twins, I walk only. I am enjoying it though and have been able to walk daily throughout my pregnancy - so far. I have been very lucky and did not have a very difficult first trimester. I found on those very very exhausted days in the beginning that walking first thing helped me increase my energy level. I am starting to get side stitches now when I walk and, although my Dr. says they are merely round ligament pains, they do hurt. I am hoping that I am able to continue my walks throughout my second trimester and I definitly plan on stopping altogehter when I start my third trimester.

I struggle with wondering what is right and what is wrong. To exercise or to not. I wonder if I am hurting my babies and then wonder how I could be hurting my babies by walking in the sunshine. I do know; however, I am a better person/nicer wife when I include a walk into my day and so that is what I am going to go by right now.

18w4d with boy/girl twins

 

I was a major exerciser b/f getting pregnant. My body let me know very quickly that it was not happy. I started bleeding early on in my pregnancy so my maternal/fetal said STOP! Once I chilled out every thing was fine. Then the naseua hit and there was no way I was exercising. In my second trimester I did do some light short walks. I have learned to listen to my body. Recently, like people above, just going up a flight of stairs, going to the grocery store, doing laundry is more than enough for me to get out of breath and feel like my stomach weighs 800 lbs! I am committed to babies health, so I am going to sit on my bootie w/ my feet up more often and have faith that babies will be fine and that my body will bounce back after! Best of luck to everyone!

 

I thought about it...and it was a good thought!!! I tried to excercise but it just gets a lil to overhelming after a while. We just need to relax and enjoy our pregnancies.