Exercize while pregenant

CEG · Apr 6, 2006

I am a nursing student, not a midwife yet, but during my pregnncies I was told I could exercise, to do whatever was comfortable. I ran, lifted light weights, swam, and did pilates.

The things to avoid would be contact sports, anything where you could get hit with a ball, and possibly bike riding if your balance was an issue. Anything where you need to sprint would also probably be a bad idea.

Some people recommend keeping your HR below 140 but many say that is outdated. I kept mine below 160 ( I tend to be high when running) and my two kids are fine.

Staying hydrated and stretching are important as well as beeing aware of physical changes like center of balance and stretching joints/ligaments.

anapurnas · Apr 6, 2006

I would like to add that I have been taught that one should not START any vigorous exerciese during pregnancy, but if you ALREADY exercise regularly, then the aforementioned guidelines are great. If you start an exercise regimen while pregnant (meaning sedentary before), it should be relatively gentle such as swimming and light weights, yoga, brisk walking, etc. So, if already active, keep going as long as comfortable, staying well-hydrated and not raising body temerature too high. If enw to exercise, start out gently and stay gentle.

-Midget- · Apr 7, 2006

Cool...thank you both for your input!I found some stuff already, so I am just trying to put out the most interesting/important information, since I don't need a ton of information. Nonetheless, getting to learn this stuff has all been pretty interesting...being a male, I don't know very much about pregnancy. ;)I saw that swimming was good, but learned to avoid scuba diving...as the pressure changes could be bad for the baby. Not overheating (especially in the first 6 wks) was interesting. Then I learned that doing exercizes that requier long periods of time laying on your back, (i.e. some yoga, etc) could require blood flow to the heart? Could someone explain that a little more, from like an anatomy/physiology standpoint? Thank you much! :)

CEG · Apr 7, 2006

The laying on your back thing- it's said that the weight of the pregnant uterus compresses something- maybe the inferior vena cava, I can't remember, and impedes blood flow. Or maybe it's the arota, I really need to get the anatomy book out. So it is supposed to restrict blood flow to the placenta and possibly cause hypoxia to the baby.

My CNM told me if that were the case I would feel dizzy long before the baby was harmed by lack of oxygen and not worry about it. It's a concern because people are sometimes told not to sleep on their back for that reason. Imagine the panic when you go to sleep on your side and wake up on your back in a panic that you have somehow harmed the baby.

Some people do feel dizzy and uncomfortable and can't lay on their back but it never bothered me. Lying on the left side is supposed to improve blood flow both to the baby and mom and is often used in labor.

Overheating, I think you are recommended to keep below 102. although I never took a tempadot to the gym with me, LOL.

Again, I am not a nurse yet but I am a birth junkie who reads alot. Someone contradict me if I am wrong, please.

J'sGirl82 · Apr 9, 2006

I was a bad preggo mommy......I played tennis and basketball all the way up until 2 weeks before I was due. I ran in formation with my company ( Army) up until 6 mos, push ups, the only things that really really HURT like the dickens to do was sit-ups, which I did safely until about 4 mos. The only thing that sticks out in my mind that really struck me as a no-no was the riffle range. Physically it didn't hurt me, but it bothered the baby a whole lot. Every time I shot a round, she would kick and hit, and everything else. I'm not sure this qualifies as a "sport". I guess it's different for everybody. That's only my personal experience, I was told to NOT do everything I've mentioned for 1 reason or another, but chose not to become a sack of potatoes because of my pregnancy. FYI, 40.5 weeks, I weighed 161.2, 3 weeks PP 144, 8 Weeks PP 118, I credit that to my activity level before, during and after my pregnancy. I also BF'd.

CEG · Apr 9, 2006

I was a bad preggo mommy......I played tennis and basketball all the way up until 2 weeks before I was due. I ran in formation with my company ( Army) up until 6 mos push ups, the only things that really really HURT like the dickens to do was sit-ups, which I did safely until about 4 mos. The only thing that sticks out in my mind that really struck me as a no-no was the riffle range. Physically it didn't hurt me, but it bothered the baby a whole lot. Every time I shot a round, she would kick and hit, and everything else. I'm not sure this qualifies as a "sport". I guess it's different for everybody. That's only my personal experience, I was told to NOT do everything I've mentioned for 1 reason or another, but chose not to become a sack of potatoes because of my pregnancy. FYI, 40.5 weeks, I weighed 161.2, 3 weeks PP 144, 8 Weeks PP 118, I credit that to my activity level before, during and after my pregnancy. I also BF'd.[/quote']
Funny, I did the same! I can't stand those girls who ride their profiles. For me, I wouldn't go to the range- ammunition + casings are tetragenic (can cause harm to fetus) and I was concerned about hearing damage to the baby. But everybody has to weigh things for themselves.
It's great that your commander was supportive, I had to fight quite a few battles to stay out of pregnancy PT, which was totally lame. I ran two miles the day before DD was born and I felt great (2 weeks overdue, 8 lbs, 11 oz, yikes!) I did the same with my DS.

-Midget- · Apr 9, 2006

Thanks for the responses...great information!

J'sGirl82 · Apr 10, 2006

Funny, I did the same! I can't stand those girls who ride their profiles. For me, I wouldn't go to the range- ammunition + casings are tetragenic (can cause harm to fetus) and I was concerned about hearing damage to the baby. But everybody has to weigh things for themselves.
It's great that your commander was supportive, I had to fight quite a few battles to stay out of pregnancy PT, which was totally lame. I ran two miles the day before DD was born and I felt great (2 weeks overdue, 8 lbs, 11 oz, yikes!) I did the same with my DS.[/quote
My Commander never did PT with the Company ! LOL, My 1SG was on Profile getting ready to retire so what would he know ???? The M-16 and rounds aren't dangerous to the baby, it's the CLP. Hence why According to Pregancy Profile Regs, you are allowed to carry and fire your weapon until 40 weeks, after that you are excluded. But, I was pregnant with DH in Iraq ( I had only been home from Iraq for 4 months before getting preggo, then he left AGAIN ) so we were on a Rear Detachment, I probably don't have to tell you how "shamtastic" that was

CEG · Apr 11, 2006

My Commander never did PT with the Company ! LOL, My 1SG was on Profile getting ready to retire so what would he know ???? The M-16 and rounds aren't dangerous to the baby, it's the CLP. Hence why According to Pregancy Profile Regs, you are allowed to carry and fire your weapon until 40 weeks, after that you are excluded. But, I was pregnant with DH in Iraq ( I had only been home from Iraq for 4 months before getting preggo, then he left AGAIN ) so we were on a Rear Detachment, I probably don't have to tell you how "shamtastic" that was :uhoh3:

Wow, same here with the DH in Iraq. We must have been living double lives.

I was actually a battalion ammo officer at one point and there are warnings on ammo crates, shipping labels, and packaging that it is tetragenic, so I always thought it was wrong that it said you would fire a weapon. Of course I was also told not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks and given a profile that said I could foot march and carry a 35 pound ruck :uhoh3:

Gotta love rear-d though :)

J'sGirl82 · Apr 11, 2006

Girl...let me tell you...I used to do Staff Duty, even though the PREG Profile says after 28 weeks, no 24-hour duty. I hated Rear-D, I went from being the Commo gal, to Supply-iiiiiiccccccccckkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!! :madface: Plus with DH in Mosul, they expected me to "care" about the spouses left behind, I actually oversaw a detail to go cut grass for the civvy spouses that couldnt' cut their own grass, meanwhile I cut grass up until DH came home for R&R ( which btw, I was 39 weeks pregnant). Hence, while left after 6 years. LOLOLOLOLOLOL Now I'm the Civvy Spouse :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: Now I write the letters and complain at the FRG groups, and what can they say ?? Not a Dang Thing, LOLOLOLOLOLOL:lol2: :lol2: Gotta love it

CEG · Apr 11, 2006

I think we have officially hijacked this thread, but I just have to tell you my DH was in Mosul, too. This is crazy. I also got out and caused trouble, although now Dh is out too so my FRg days are over. What a wild coincidence. Same thing with R & R although my DH's commander TOOK my DH's R & R slot because his wife was due to have a baby :(

So my DH arrived home about 5 days after my due date after a few phone calls by my BC. Luckily DD arrived late so he didn't miss it.