Post IVF only please. When can resume exercise at “normal pregnancy” and not special IVF only walking rules?

[Adalovelace23]

POST IVF only as advice is not same as NHS/standard pregnancy advice.

I’m 5 weeks (so happy etc!). my IVF clinic says I can’t swim or do gym exercise which is fine - no unnecessary risks - very happy to obey the rules. And will update me at the 6,5-7 week scan. 

Does anyone know if that’s the point where you transition from “high risk walking only/ major infection risk” to normal pregnancy exercise rules (I.e. light exercise that you used to do just no weights/abs and swimming being good for you and baby)?

Is 7 weeks or is it 12weeks or does IVF mean I’m not allowed in a swimming pool until post birth? 

I need to give notice to my personal trainer of 3 years. I used to do a similar self employed job and someone stringing you along every 2 weeks and cancelling is the height of annoying/can affect whether you can afford a holiday or a meal out with friends. Also I miss exercise!

[Sw1234]

I take my LB to swimming lessons but was told not to for the TWW due to risk of infection with my next transfer (fresh transfer) I didn't go swimming for 7 weeks though just to be safe

[Hopewhite]

hi I hope you’re well, I’m interested to see what others say as I also miss exercise. After the transfer my fertility clinic said normal exercise could resume, as long as it wasn’t anything strenuous or anything new for the body. They said I could go back to running after a week or so, I never did just switched to do a lot of walking instead, around week 6 I was starting to feel brave to restart but then got a hematoma, so had to slow down even with the walking. I have my viability scan next week, hopefully everything is progressing well, I’ll ask this again xx

All the best of luck with your pregnancy xx

[Purpledoggy]

I was never told to do or not to do anything post transfer/IVF but understand why swimming in TWW might be a problem. IVF pregnancies are considered a bit higher risk for various reasons but I believe that has more to do with monitoring and risk of high BP than anything. Obviously follow whatever instructions you have been given though! XX

[Adalovelace23 in reply to Purpledoggy]

my clinic is very conservative with exercise - pretty much every stage apart from the 2 months I took “off” as a I got OHSS I’ve been told to nothing more than walking. So I’ve had like 5 months of walking only - often with instructions to keep heart rate 2x base rate max so not speed walking/ jogging up the stairs at work.

I will say I’ve a BMI of 31 but I was back to 1x 5k a week 1 x 2k swim and 45 mins of weights with the PT Jan 23. (yes you can exercise this much and still be obese. I used to have a normal range BMI until 2020/ 2021 - I comfort ate by way through the pandemic/early unsuccessful fertility journey whilst all my friends had babies wearing leggings that stretched up the 2 clothes sizes without protest.)

[Purpledoggy in reply to Adalovelace23]

They all seem to give different advice for whatever reason. Mine is a bit the opposite, they don’t much care what we do! Xx

[SueOM]

I was also told to avoid swimming, sauna, baths etc during the TWW. Other than that they said to listen to your body and use coming sense - so for example not starting any new/strenuous activity you’ve never done before, etc.

I don’t remember much more guidance about exercise, but I was cautious and only doing some walks for the first few weeks. Once the pregnancy symptoms hit in (about week 6) I was too tired to do anything anyway and spent the next two weeks on the sofa!

But then from week 9 I was back doing my usual parkrun (5K run) albeit at a much slower pace, and some gentle pregnancy yoga. We had a scan at 6 weeks showing her ear that reassured us, if it wasn’t for that maybe I would’ve hold off physical activity (but don’t think so, I need to move!).

First time I went swimming was in week 13 but only because it’s not something I regularly do (no nice pool where I lived) so the first opportunity I head was during work travel, as hotel where I stayed happened to have a pool.

Crossing fingers for your pregnancy. Hope you find activity that works for you xx

[Missl73]

I exercised normally throughout both of my IVF pregnancies. Clinics can be very cautious but it’s not supported by evidence. It’s helpful to have a strong, healthy body for labour and birth!

[Weareback2]

I resumed exercise afyer 7 week sxan and continued swim/classes etc until the day before i had my wee one.

[Eldouble]

My clinic specifically said there’s no evidence behind recommendations that you need to stop exercise/avoid swimming etc and that I could do everything as normal. I played a volleyball match the day after my transfer.

I’m 19weeks pregnant now (I’ve stopped volleyball but still cycling, playing tennis and sea swimming).

[flamingopher]

I’d never heard the no swimming advice… I went to Portugal when I was about 7 weeks and spent plenty of time in the pool! My little embryo is 5 months old today so no harm done fortunately.

Congratulations and I wish you a smooth and happy pregnancy!

[Jumpppy]

Fresh transfer or FET? - it's different advice. For fresh it's longer wait as EC increases infection risk etc. For FET I was told resume "pregnancy safe exercise" at 5 wks or when ready. I was in yoga and Plilates classes by 6wks. Just avoided laying on my stomach for prolonged periods.I'm a swimmer main advice was around use of progesterone inserts. They recommended swimming before the insert or waiting 2 hrs after insert.

Congrats - good luck!

[Adalovelace23 in reply to Jumpppy]

Frozen. My clinic is really against it - seems every time I ask I get a flat out no. I do wonder if it’s contending with central Londoners - my friend who conceived naturally was doing HIIT spin clashes 3 x a week until 7 months and was annoyed she couldn’t do a half marathon at 6 weeks post birth because of her c section. She kept saying she would do it slowly.

[Solly-44]

Hi, the swimming thing is just to avoid infection after they’ve been digging around inside! Same with baths, but I was told that after the 2WW it’s fine. It’s not the exercise as such they’re usually concerned about, just the infection risk. My clinic’s policy is that you continue as normal after transfer apart from taking it very slightly easy until test day but they want to keep the blood flowing so treat it like any non ivf pregnancy after a positive test x