Running while you are pregnant Post Reply

[gbell84]

I am an avid runner and have been running on and off for 6 years. I have done a few half marathons completing my most recent just a few weeks ago. I have now discovered i am just over 6 weeks pregnant so in my first trimester (first baby so new to everything).

I have felt very sluggish on the last few runs that i have done recently (only 4/5 milers at slower pace than normal). Is this normal in your first trimester or should I should be bursting with energy given all the sleeping I have been doing and no alchohol. I really want to keep running for as long as I am able to to stay fit and to help my keep my sanity throughout my pregnancy. Any thoughts on this topic would be appreciated.

Thanks

[marchmum]

I was/am a keen runner and carried on gentle running until I was about 30 weeks.You just need to make sure you are keeping your heart rate below about 140 bpm. I did find it slightly more difficult in the first few weeks when feeling so lethargic and sick but it picked up again and I had no real problems.I could almost have carried on for longer but it was winter and I was scared of slipping over in the ice etc. The only warning I would give is to be really careful of your joints as pregnancy hormones cause all your ligaments to relax and you are much more susceptible to injury. I started running again 6 weeks after my caeserean and developed really bad hip and lower back problems which I am still suffering with now.I don't know if this was something that started when I was pregnant but in retrospect I wish I had been a bit kinder on myself and my body. I would say keep on running as long as it feels comfortable but if you develop any knee/back pain etc then stop straight away and don't push yourself-alll common sense I suppose ! Congrats on your pregnancy.

[gbell84]

Hi many thanks for sharing your experience and your advice. I will defintely bare this in mind.

[sportymum]

I am also an avid runner and overdid it resulting with acute buttock and pelvic pain, so end up to see a physiotherpist whose treatment was very helpful (Physio for All on Webbs road www.physio4all.com )
She also gave me lots of advice so I can maintain my fitness during pregnancy. The physio gave me this link from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) with the guidelines for exercise during pregnancy: http://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/cl ... -pregnancy . Very helpful!
Best wishes++

[Eskimomummy]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I am a trainer specialising in post injury rehabilitation, wellness and exercise with over 20 years experience, a keen runner and a mum of two. My professional advice would be the same as the pregnancy guidelines already mentioned, paying particular attention to the hormonal changes to your ligaments. As well as the obvious joints utilised in running, it is also worth considering the internal organs (particularly the uterus) that can take a lot of impact whilst running. I personally chose to stop running during my pregnancies as I do lots of other types of training and have been injured in the past so I didn't want to take the risk. However it is a very personal choice, and I believe as long as you take a balanced approach and include lots of stability work and pelvic floor, modified running should be fine, especially if as you mentioned you've been doing it along time. With regards to the low energy, your body is busy creating a little person and has to produce lots of cells, so all your energy and additional blood flow is being distributed to your uterus and not to it's usual destinations. If you can still get out running without morning sickness ( I had it terribly!) you are doing brilliantly!! Good luck and if i can offer any more advice, let me know.

[shaneleone]

I'd agree with all of the above. I was also an avid runner before getting pregnant, and was pretty sluggish during my first trimester. The second trimester, you tend to feel the best/most energetic. I took it easy, didn't push myself and kept running into the 7 month, when I finally stopped and just continued with yoga and pilates. I had a c-section, so couldn't exercise for 10 weeks afterwards, and then found any kind of high impact activity difficult with the breastfeeding, so I waited to start jogging again until my son started solids at 6 months. Mostly, you just need to listen to your body - but I found that I really loved running while pregnant - my son moved and kicked and jumped a TON inside me, and running seemed to calm him down and keep him quiet. It also really helped me with tiredness and nausea, so I was sad to give it up at 7 months, but I was pretty big at that point and didn't want to push it.