Exercise during pregnancy: I have been... - Fertility Network UK

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Exercise during pregnancy

Bernie150781 profile image
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I have been advised not to become so out of breath while being pregnant that you aren't able to have a conversation, does anyone know the reason why for this?

I am a keen cyclist and have not been on the bike since my IVF and becoming pregnant, I have some nice routes where I live but cannot avoid a hill or two where I would become out of breath, any advice please? X

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Bernie150781
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Ladypii profile image
Ladypii

Hello

I was a keen runner before IVF (about 30/40 miles a week). I slowed this down in the lead up to IVF so as not to raise testosterone levels, did only yoga in the tww, but since getting a positive test i have done a HIT pregnancy routine and a 40 min uphil walk on the treadmill almost every night and the occasional yoga (im now 27 weeks).

They usually say it depends on what your activity and fitness levels were before you were pregnant and if you have a high risk pregnancy. As my fitness was good and i do not have a high risk pregnancy i have continued to exercise (obviously not like pre-pregnancy) and it does get me out of breath but in a mild way so im still getting a good amount of daily exercise, especially as i am working from home at the moment and not moving as much as i would usually.

On the whole every pregnancy book and clinician will tell you exercise is very good for pregnancy and to ensure a smoother birth (although not guaranteed obviously!) as long as you dont have a pre-existing medical condition or a high risk pregnancy.

The only thing I remember my mid-wife telling me was to avoid exercise that bounces you up and down too much during the first 12 weeks (she didn’t actually give me a reasoning for that though) so i was a bit more careful then, but otherwise I maintain a daily exercise routine that definitely gets me sweating and my heart moving!

Xxx

Bernie150781 profile image
Bernie150781 in reply to Ladypii

Hi Ladypii, thankyou so much for your reply, I changed my routine from cycling to walking and yoga but I don't feel like I've actually worked out and I'm missing it, I did go out on the bike for half hour to see how I felt today and it made me feel normal again but I didn't raise my heart rate too much, I feel like I should be able to get a good balance now, I'm only 11 weeks and don't know how long I can cycle for as I have a road bike and it will only be so long until the bump gets in the way but I feel comfortable for now while I'm able. X x

Ladypii profile image
Ladypii in reply to Bernie150781

Yes i agree, your body is used to cycling and light exercise can only do you good! Its hard isnt it, im so grateful to be pregnant obviously, but really miss running and doing hard core exercise to blow off steam!

Hope your pregnancy is stress free till the end xx

Bernie150781 profile image
Bernie150781 in reply to Ladypii

Absolutely and I'm on furlough so I need the exercise to help keep the good feelings as the days are endless even though I'm finding things to do.I hope you have a great pregnancy too X x

skitten profile image
skitten in reply to Ladypii

What HIIT routine are you following? I’m a keen rower so normally train a lot and to pretty high intensities so don’t really want to give everything up.

Ladypii profile image
Ladypii in reply to skitten

Ive been using Alo Moves, sessions with Jennifer Forrester. She has 3 sessions a week for each trimester (but you can repeat them as much as you like obvs) differing in intensity and a 10 min core workout for each trimester too. I really like them! Its called prenatal HIIT xx

skitten profile image
skitten in reply to Ladypii

Thank you. I had COVID before going through my current round of IVF so it feels like forever since I’ve done any proper exercise and really itching to get moving again. Still early in my 2WW so don’t want to over do it.

ashbb profile image
ashbb

Also wondering about this... I'm a Swimmer so obviously that's not happening at the moment. I do lots of walking but also cravin the feeling of having worked out. I'm half a stone heavier since starting treatment. I'm only 7 weeks so hope the weight gain doesn't continue. 😖I was going to ask about excercise at my next scan in a week or so.

skitten profile image
skitten

I’ve read that up to 150mins of moderate exercise is ok, preferably 30mins at a time. With cycling I saw that meant up to 10mph and over 10mph counted as vigourous. I guess with the hills if it really feels that bad you could get off and walk the bike up the hill a bit? Not quite as nice as cycling outside but do you have a turbo training or could get one as then you could probably cycle for longer as there’s less concern about balance and your bump getting in the way.

Bernie150781 profile image
Bernie150781 in reply to skitten

Hi skitten it's actually easier to cycle up hill as I have clip in shoes and really hard to walk in, I have a nice route from my house so I will continue with that, I also have a turbo trainer but my laptop isn't working so without zwift (a virtual cycling world) it can be quite boring but I do have that option when my bump gets bigger, exercise really does help you feel better.

skitten profile image
skitten in reply to Bernie150781

I might have to investigate zwift. My triathlete husband is obsessed (especially since lockdown) and I think any potential bump would interfere with rowing before cycling.

Bernie150781 profile image
Bernie150781 in reply to skitten

Yes I woudl think so, at least if you need to you can adjust a bike seat and handle bars, yeah Zwift really does take the boredom out of turbo training, it's quite a clever thing.

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