1068 replies to this topic

[downunder runner]

hi there all coolrunning preggo runners out there,

I know and hope there are some!!  Just would like to chat and see how it is going for you and share experiences.

This is my 2nd pregnancy and 2nd one running though it (so far).  I am 23 weeks preggo and feeling very good, except today, I am very tired.

I am managing 4-5 days of running, one 'long' run (10-13kms) on the weekend, swimming 2-3 times a week,  yoga classes and weights at home for strength.   would love some suggestions on abdominal exercises.......I think I was told the plank position was fine, but not sure how to use my Fit ball when pregnant.

hope to hear from other preggo ladies !!

p.s. Doing the 10km at the Melbourne Marathon - think it may be a 'wobble' however!

[hossum]

I'm not pregnant at the moment and I didn't run during my previous two pregnancies.  I plan to keep up running if I get pregnant again so I hope you don't mind if I follow along.

[loubee]

Hi Downunder, congrats on the pregnancy!

I'm no longer pregnant, #3 born in May, but exercised right through to the birth at 40 + 3 weeks. I stopped running at 29 weeks as I was too uncomfortable and not enough toilets on my runs for the additional toilet breaks . I continued doing circuit class, weights and bike/stepper/eliptical trainer without problems.

Plank, side and front was fine although I did end up on my knees due to a sacrolliac problem. I used the fit ball to do pelvic tilts or side raises. You could also use the ball to balance on your knees which will help your core strength - just make sure you do this around something you can grab onto if you lose your balance. You can also do tummy raises on all fours and superman on all fours - raise opposite leg and arm, this is also good for your lower back.

This was my first really fit pregnancy and I felt better than ever.  The physical tiredness was preferable to the blobbing tiredness I felt on days I couldn't get to the gym for whatever reason. At about the 34 week mark I had a really bad cold so couldn't exercise and ended up with a very sore back which only went when I started exercising again.

Check out this research from James E Clapp, well worth a read.

Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy, I'll keep an eye out for you in Melb as I'm doing the half!
loubee  

[serena]

Loubee that is fantastic, what a great pregnancy to be able to keep so fit! I am not a contender for this thread as I have finished having babies (four of them). Unfortunately I had a little spotting when I tried to keep running and got too freaked to keep going, and even more unfortunately piled on around 20 kilos with each pregnancy.

I hope mums to be will be inspired by Loubee and Downunderrunner and keep up the hard work while pregnant because it is a total bugger trying to lose all that weight while juggling a new little darling (and toddlers) as well.

Good for you, Downunderrunner, I hope it all continues to go as well as it has so far!

sj

[Lakeside]

I think this thread could be great.

I am not currently pregnant, but will follow along with interest.  

I plan to continue running through pregnancy, just altering my active lifestyle when I need to.  I have an extremely sedentary job, so I feel the need to get out there at least once a day and do something.

My husband and family are not exactly thrilled with this idea.

I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks earlier this year, so that's not helping my argument.  I think there was a bit of insinuating that maybe I had overdone it and caused the m/c.

Thanks for the link loubee, I have printed it out.

I already know when pregnant that I have to abstain from lots of my favourite things: coffee, red wine, sushi, smoked salmon, fetta cheese, and they want me to stop running too???  I can't just go to work and be a baby incubator for 9 months!  The thought of this makes me not want to get pregnant again despite the fact that we are supposedly trying again next month.

Sorry if my post sounds negative, I think I'm still a bit punchy from the comments I received after the m/c.

[Paulawannabe]

Lakeside, on Sep 30 2008, 05:00 PM, said:

I think this thread could be great.

I am not currently pregnant, but will follow along with interest.  

I plan to continue running through pregnancy, just altering my active lifestyle when I need to.  I have an extremely sedentary job, so I feel the need to get out there at least once a day and do something.

My husband and family are not exactly thrilled with this idea.

I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks earlier this year, so that's not helping my argument.  I think there was a bit of insinuating that maybe I had overdone it and caused the m/c.

Thanks for the link loubee, I have printed it out.

I already know when pregnant that I have to abstain from lots of my favourite things: coffee, red wine, sushi, smoked salmon, fetta cheese, and they want me to stop running too???  I can't just go to work and be a baby incubator for 9 months!  The thought of this makes me not want to get pregnant again despite the fact that we are supposedly trying again next month.

Sorry if my post sounds negative, I think I'm still a bit punchy from the comments I received after the m/c.

Hey there Lakeside,
I'm really sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I'm even more sorry to hear about the implied insinuation that you caused. I can only imagine how much these comments would have hurt.
I'm not pregnant yet either, (havent come to grips with not being able to compete, let alone run!) and I plan to run through my pregnancy. Several friends of mine have run through their pregancies. I think being sensible about it is the key. Check out the blog on the runners world website - baby steps.  (runnersworld.com) Its great being able to follow a real life person!
Best of luck with your baby making plans. Just remember - its supposed to be time of celebration (including the making of the baby) so if itsnt, maybe take the pressure off yourself?

[Tim 2]

Lakeside, on Sep 30 2008, 01:00 AM, said:

I think this thread could be great.

I am not currently pregnant, but will follow along with interest.  

I plan to continue running through pregnancy, just altering my active lifestyle when I need to.  I have an extremely sedentary job, so I feel the need to get out there at least once a day and do something.

My husband and family are not exactly thrilled with this idea.

I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks earlier this year, so that's not helping my argument.  I think there was a bit of insinuating that maybe I had overdone it and caused the m/c.

Thanks for the link loubee, I have printed it out.

I already know when pregnant that I have to abstain from lots of my favourite things: coffee, red wine, sushi, smoked salmon, fetta cheese, and they want me to stop running too???  I can't just go to work and be a baby incubator for 9 months!  The thought of this makes me not want to get pregnant again despite the fact that we are supposedly trying again next month.

Sorry if my post sounds negative, I think I'm still a bit punchy from the comments I received after the m/c.

Hope blokes are not banned here

Sorry to hear about the miscarriage.

From a medical point of view, miscarriages are unfortunately quite common so a coincidence with an exercise session is not unheard of.  However you'd have to be doing some serious hard core exercise to cause a miscarriage.  Bottom line no one will ever know what caused your miscarrige but 99.99% of time it won't be the fact that you went for a run (or two or three).  It's just easy to blame the exercise when people are disappointed or upset about the miscarriage.

I'm strongly of the opinion that people who don't exercise don't understand exercise and this includes many doctors.  There is much misinformation out there but healthy mum means best chance of healthy baby and exercise is an essential requirement for health.

Stay fit and healthy and all the best for the next one

Tim

[loubee]

Lakeside, I'm sorry you miscarried and hope to hear you are fit, healthy and pregnant again soon. I've attached the sports medicine australia fact sheet on exercising while pregnant. If you can get a back copy of R4YL Nov 07 there is an article on Tiffany Bonasera, a runner, and what she did during her pregnancy. Her mum kept telling her to take it easy but conceded after the birth that her exercising had probably been responsible for an easy pregnancy and labour.

Take it easy and listen to your body. I played touch rugby until 13 weeks with #3 and netball until 12 weeks with both 1 & 2 without issue. That will not be the same for everyone as some people will have more trouble carrying babies so do keep this in mind but as Tim said in most cases it is better to be healthy than sedantry.  People would often say to me to take it easy and don't work too hard, the reality is I couldn't work harder than my body allowed. When I returned to exercise post pregnancy I couldn't believe how easy it was to exercise again without the belly and just how good it felt to really work hard and sweat. I realised that although I thought I was working hard it actually wasn't that hard.

Thanks SJ, it was as much about my sanity as it was about being able to eat too much of the wrong food and not put on too much weight!

Attached Files

•  SMA_Exercise_in_pregnancy.pdf   1.03MB   55 downloads

[karla]

Wow isn't it funny. On my run last night I was thinking about running and whether I would keep doing it during my next pregnancy, and then I jumped on here and there was a post. I was so sick with morning sickness up until 24 weeks so certainly could not even consider the thought of exercising. Couldn't even get out of bed some mornings. I then did some light walking etc just to try and stay a little fit, although to be honest I wasn't that fit to start with. I then did something really silly. I did a 10km fundraising walk and really struggled (I'm quite stubborn so wouldn't stop) and kept having bad pains towards the end. In hindsight after going through labour they were contractions which is really quite scary. I guess it was too much for my fitness level and I didn't listen to my body telling me to stop. I kept doing some light walking occasionally but took it pretty easy for the rest of pregnancy. I had a great labour and lost all the baby weight plus a bit more quite quickly.

I'm pretty keen to run through my next pregnancy but will certainly not try and stretch myself and will be listening to my body VERY closely.

Good look with your pregnancy downunder. I'm very impressed you can find the time to do all of that exercise. I take my hat off to you! All the best for your pregnancy. Look after yourself!

Karla

[Lakeside]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I know that exercise did not cause my miscarriage, I'm just terrible at arguing a point.  I tend to sound like I'm desperately defending myself and so just give up.  I will be getting my hands on as many credible studies as I can.  

It also doesn't help that I am incredibly sweaty runner.  I look like I am working a lot harder than I actually am.

It took a few days to actually confirm I was pregnant, most home preg tests just wouldn't register my levels.  A blood test finally confirmed things (obviously my levels were low, hence I was probably destined for a failed pregnancy) but in the meantime, after the -ve tests I had consumed a couple of glasses of wine.  Of course I felt horrible about this, but everyone I told said not to worry.  These same people were the ones who questioned my running.  So alcohol is OK but exercise bad    I'm starting to realise that the topic of pregancy is full of old wives tales and convienient theories according to who you are speaking to!

I will educate myself so that I have some quick comebacks next time.

Good luck downunder runner, I will be very keen to hear your progress.

[kermc]

Lakeside, on Oct 1 2008, 08:18 AM, said:

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I know that exercise did not cause my miscarriage, I'm just terrible at arguing a point.  I tend to sound like I'm desperately defending myself and so just give up.  I will be getting my hands on as many credible studies as I can.  

It also doesn't help that I am incredibly sweaty runner.  I look like I am working a lot harder than I actually am.

It took a few days to actually confirm I was pregnant, most home preg tests just wouldn't register my levels.  A blood test finally confirmed things (obviously my levels were low, hence I was probably destined for a failed pregnancy) but in the meantime, after the -ve tests I had consumed a couple of glasses of wine.  Of course I felt horrible about this, but everyone I told said not to worry.  These same people were the ones who questioned my running.  So alcohol is OK but exercise bad    I'm starting to realise that the topic of pregancy is full of old wives tales and convienient theories according to who you are speaking to!

I will educate myself so that I have some quick comebacks next time.

Good luck downunder runner, I will be very keen to hear your progress.

I'm so sorry for your loss Lakeside.

FWIW my pregnancy was an IVF pregnancy and my specialists all said I could just do my normal activity level throughout the treatment, transfer, 2ww and pregnancy so long as I listened to my body and didn't start anything my body wasn't already used to. As it happens I was very low when it all happened and not exercising at all, but I hope (if we are lucky enough for it to work again) that next time I'll be running right on through the whole process - if only because its so good for my mental health.

Don't even get me started on the old wives tales and convenient theories   if one more person had told me to just relax or go on a holiday and we'd fall pregnant I would have bludgeoned them to death with their own limbs!

[downunder runner]

So happy I posted! I too am very sorry for your loss Lakeside, and can fully understand how the comments of others about running is distressing, but simply not true in 99.9% of cases like Tim has said.

Loubee - you did so incredible job keeping up the running and then other gym work!! it does make you feel great doesn't it??  I admit to feeling a little pressure on myself for continuing to run right up to the end, as I did with my first pregnancy - but in reality, I am 6 years older, in the process of moving interstate in 8 weeks time (into the Queensland heat!)  and my son is starting school the day the baby is due to be born!!  May as well do it all at once hey??

karla and Hossum - very happy for you to follow along and of course, Tim, men are welcome to chat too! It is fantastic to have this support for each other.

It helps heaps emotionally that i have done this running in pregnancy thing before, but having said that, I still find MOST doctors and midwifes and almost all magazines suggest we don't run. Lucky for me I have a very supportive hubby but don't say much to the in-laws or my parents.  I feel wonderful doing it, and have had no problems at all, except for some early bleeding  which was unrelated to running.

thanks again for posting and I too look forward to more chatting!!

p.s. I have just bought a 'snuzzler' for my Baby Jogger - for neck and body support for baby - when do you think I could start running with bubs along smooth surfaces?

[sneakergal]

I have just had #1 and ran /jogged/wobbled all the way to 40 weeks.

I had 3 miscarriages previously, all of which upon falling preggers I stopped everything, wrapped myself in cotton wool, and waited to bleed ( I got used to it by the 3rd). So once I fell for the fourth time, I said "bugger this", I ate sushi, soft cheese, hot dogs, red wine, and I ran 2 half marathons, four 5-10k races, and trained every day. Then presto, baby is healthy. Go figure. I'm not recomending this to everyone, its just my story. I can't say it helped labour at all, but labour helped my running!

p.s. I really never understood the 'enjoy your pregnancy' thing that people say. I felt like slapping them. I say enjoy your baby....they are the best thing in the world!

[loubee]

sneakergal, on Oct 1 2008, 05:44 PM, said:

I have just had #1 and ran /jogged/wobbled all the way to 40 weeks.

I had 3 miscarriages previously, all of which upon falling preggers I stopped everything, wrapped myself in cotton wool, and waited to bleed ( I got used to it by the 3rd). So once I fell for the fourth time, I said "bugger this", I ate sushi, soft cheese, hot dogs, red wine, and I ran 2 half marathons, four 5-10k races, and trained every day. Then presto, baby is healthy. Go figure. I'm not recomending this to everyone, its just my story. I can't say it helped labour at all, but labour helped my running!

p.s. I really never understood the 'enjoy your pregnancy' thing that people say. I felt like slapping them. I say enjoy your baby....they are the best thing in the world!

Ness, thats a hard road to a healthy baby!  

I ate sushi too

[downunder runner]

sneaker gal.........funny you say that about your labour/birth............I think my 38 weeks of running in pregnancy with number 1 also helped me 'train' for the 27 hours of labour I had !!!!  I think running marathons is much, much easier!!

Maybe I will be lucky this time and only have a 20 hour labour? he, he, I laugh about it now.., just better keep up the training for it.!!!

p.s. I am another sushi lover!

[Frank the Tank]

I have recently found out I am pregnant. 6 weeks next week. Feeling absolutely great and been running 4 -5 times per week (although only have known I have been pregnant for 1.5 weeks). I planned to do the half in Melbourne, aiming for 95 mins, and now opted to do the ten aiming to finish with water bottle in hand. For all those who have been pregnant (this is my first), is it OK to keep running this much in the first trimester? I am petrified something will go wrong anyway, but do not want to sit at home and do no exercise. I am running max 10k per time (compared to running 30k two Sundays ago)......my heart rate is around 150 beats.....any comments? I need all the guidance I can get as I know if something does go wrong I will blame myself even though deep down I know it probably is nothing I did.

[fuja]

I am just over 10 weeks pregnant any my first pregnancy, so I am loving this post!!

I was training for melbourne marathon, until 3 weeks ago and then found out I was preggo.  Now I am going to do the half instead.  Likely won't be my best time, but seeing as though I have already run one half while pregnant a few weeks back (although i didn't know it at the time), I reckon the next half will be fine.

I have kept running 5 days a week so far and riding to and from work.  I am not really doing any speed work now though, so that is the only change.  I am really wanting to run throughout the whole pregnancy, but understand that I will just listen to my body.

My hubby was initally pretty uneasy that i was going to conitnue running, but I said that a happy me, will make for a happy baby - I think he gets it now!!!

[downunder runner]

Frank the Tank - Congratulations!!!!!!! I can understand your worry particularly as it is your first pregnancy. The first trimester is probably the MOST importnat time for development, and you have to be careful not to overdo things or overheat.  

It is TOTALLY up to you of course, only you know your body the best and just how fit you are - if you can run the half easy, talking the whole way, drinking and it turns out to be a relatively cool day, then I say go for it.......but no racing !! IF the day is HOT then consider the 10km (although the 10km does start at 9.30am as opposed to the half starting at 7am so...maybe not much temperature difference?).  

Listen to your body in the next week and see how it feels. I can totally understand how you feel, but in the end, you go with what YOU think is best, don't let others scare you, but equally, be imformed.

Fuja - sounds like you are mega fit and the half marathon can be run easy for you. So you will be 12 or 13 weeks preggo by the day?  yeah, again make sure you drink heaps the day before and day of the run and HAVE FUN.

It is wonderful to have so many of you chatting here now!  

I will be 6 months preggo by 10km Melbourne marathon day - and the extra weight is making it harder to run for sure!! A very good cardio and weights workout - I hope to take around 55-60mins to do the 10km - EASY and FUN is the way, although I know I get carried away by the atmosphere near the end.  It is all the loo stops that slow me down!!!!!  

By the way, is the 10km a flat course mostly? I have only ever done the marathon and half in past years.

[fuja]

Downunderrunner - I ran the 10km last year and it is mostly flat, except for the bit around the back of the Tan.  I am assuming the course is the same???

It will be hard not to race the half - that is for sure, but I am well aware I have precious cargo on board and that will be my main concern!

[downunder runner]

hi preggo ladies !!

how are things with you all?? Would love an update on how you are feeling and how the running is going!!

I did the 10km yesterday at the Melbourne Marathon day.  It was fantastic to be out there with so many others who love running, but at the same time, it took a bit of adjusting to get used to the looks and stares at my belly!!  

I had some many other friends out there doing the half and the full distance, but only saw ONE friend and a handful of coolrunners I did not recognise.  oh well.

the 10km started at 9.30am so afterwards, I headed down into the front seats of the MCG to watch the stream of marathon runners coming in from a time of 3 hours onwards.

I felt just fine in the 10km...a bit warm, but poured water over my head and did not 'race' and always felt in control, despite being envious of those who could 'do it all out'.  My time was 53 mins and change, so with all the stops for the loo and water and crowds, very, very happy.

Hope to hear from some of you soon.....

[downunder runner]

"Bump"

Hope to hear from some of you soon..

[fuja]

HI Downunder runner

I ran the half on Sunday - at almost 12 weeks preggo.  Ran an 86.39 half - which was conservative for me - and felt pretty good the whole way.  Lucky the half was over and done with before the heat struck, that was lucky!  

I have my first ultrasound next week and I am looking forward to that.  My little bub has already run two half marathons, so I am expecting the bub to be mid-stride whan i see it via ultrasound!!!!

[downunder runner]

Fuja - that is just FANTASTIC!!  What an elite athlete you are!! Or should I say preggo elite athlete!! I can only wish for a half time like that in the future (my best is 89 mins) !! wow.....

i ran the 10km on Sunday at 25 weeks preggo and we started as you know at 9.30am, so I had to tell myself to slow down as it was a fair bit warmer than what I was used to running in ! I ran it in 53 mins which I was very happy with - considering SEVERAL stops for the loos, water and overcrowded paths where I was reduced to a very slow walk in places!

I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful first pregnancy and enjoy the running - you may find the book by Dr. James Clapp "Exercising in your pregnancy" very, very useful. It is positive and most importantly, it covers information for competitive athletes like ourselves. Don't be put off by the cover!  I wish I had this book in my first pregnancy - just to show others that it is more than OK to run if everything is going along well. I also find that the less we tell certain people (like some well meaning relatives and friends!) the better.

well, very soon, here comes the 3rd trimester for me....

[downunder runner]

bump .......

anyone else ? love to chat!

[sneakergal]

I'm no longer preggers but love this thread (I have a 7 month old) but I wanted to say congratulations on the Melb? half marathon! Bubs would have loved the extra oxygen and the rocking to sleep. I have increased to 5km runs with bub in pram now so all good here. Still need to drop those extra kilos but getting there.

[sneakergal]

Hit 'reply' twice and don't know how to delete post so your stuck with my ramblings for now:)

Edited by sneakergal, 17 October 2008 - 08:20 PM.

[loubee]

sneakergal, on Oct 17 2008, 07:17 PM, said:

I'm no longer preggers but love this thread (I have a 7 month old) but I wanted to say congratulations on the Melb? half marathon! Bubs would have loved the extra oxygen and the rocking to sleep. I have increased to 5km runs with bub in pram now so all good here. Still need to drop those extra kilos but getting there.

Hi Ness, good to hear you are doing some more runs!  

Downunder runner I bet you got many a look on SUnday, I would have given you a big cheer if I had seen you but I was heading slowly back to my car after the half marathon. My debut half and I managed sub 2hr (my goal) only 4.5 months after birth of #3. Very proud of myself and can safely say the exercise I did during my pregnancy made this possible.

[downunder runner]

hi
sneakergal - so glad you can pop in to this thread and say hello........keep up the great running with the jogger - i remember this being a hard workout!

Loubee - that is just FANTASTIC time for only having bubs 4.5 months ago!! I have a similar goal to do the Gold Coast half in July next year, when bub no. 2 will be about 5 months!  

yes, I did get lots of looks on Sunday - and one lady said 'Good on ya' but that was it......mostly just looks of wonder - 'is that really a pregnant women running?' He, he.......  the photographers took a few pictures at the end too of me.

keep up the news ladies - great running !!  Now I am into my 27th week so the 3rd trimester is here!  HOpe I can keep the running up like I did with number 1 baby!! The extra weight is certainly making it harder on the legs - cardiovasular system is coping just fine!

Love to hear from more of you and regulars too again !!

loubee, on Oct 17 2008, 10:24 AM, said:

Hi Ness, good to hear you are doing some more runs!  

Downunder runner I bet you got many a look on SUnday, I would have given you a big cheer if I had seen you but I was heading slowly back to my car after the half marathon. My debut half and I managed sub 2hr (my goal) only 4.5 months after birth of #3. Very proud of myself and can safely say the exercise I did during my pregnancy made this possible.

[grannypace]

Lakeside, on Sep 30 2008, 05:00 PM, said:

I think this thread could be great.

I am not currently pregnant, but will follow along with interest.  

I plan to continue running through pregnancy, just altering my active lifestyle when I need to.  I have an extremely sedentary job, so I feel the need to get out there at least once a day and do something.

My husband and family are not exactly thrilled with this idea.

I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks earlier this year, so that's not helping my argument.  I think there was a bit of insinuating that maybe I had overdone it and caused the m/c.

Thanks for the link loubee, I have printed it out.

I already know when pregnant that I have to abstain from lots of my favourite things: coffee, red wine, sushi, smoked salmon, fetta cheese, and they want me to stop running too???  I can't just go to work and be a baby incubator for 9 months!  The thought of this makes me not want to get pregnant again despite the fact that we are supposedly trying again next month.

Sorry if my post sounds negative, I think I'm still a bit punchy from the comments I received after the m/c.

Hi Lakeside,

I am so so sorry for your loss. I have just read your post and cannot help but see the parallels between our situations. I too lost a pregancy at 8 weeks - the week before Xmas last year: Ho ho ho... Merry bloody Christmas  

I couldn't face work for a couple of days afterwards and so spent the time under the dooner. My mother-in-law dropped by to see how I was, and she suggested that I should think about the amount I was running... As it turned out, it was a 'missed miscarriage' and the running had nothing to do with causing the miscarriage.

We have not been able to conceive since, but my main concern when we do conceive was that I would have to wrap myself in cotton wool for fear of losing another one. I now know that this is not the case. Let your body tell you what you should and should not be doing. There are too many people who make unfounded, uneducated sweeping conclusions about what is, and is not safe during pregnancy.

If and when we finally do conceive, I will continue to run as long as my body lets me. Until then... I am aiming for a full marathon to keep me focused on something other than falling pregnant.

As for the negativity... I don't see you as being negative. I completely appreciate that its difficult enough to lose the hopes and plans with a lost pregnancy, let alone having others imply that it's your fault.

Good luck with the baby plans! Baby dust and baby Puma runners for you!

GP

[downunder runner]

grannypace - thanks for your lovely post. I know the feelings of not being able to concieve and others wanting to blame it on running - it begins to get into your own head.  I was TOLD constantly by strangers and even other runners that I should cut back if I wanted to concieve - this is despite the fact that my first born was coneived within 3 months of trying and I was training HARD!  This pregnancy took 3 years - who knows why.... but I really don't believe I was doing too much.  I put everything else into perspective - I love my job (stay at home mum), have a loving family life, eat well and rest well.

I had accupuncture in the last few months before conceiving - this may of helped also, as recent research has shown. Maybe worth a try?

I felt so often so depressed about it and it was the running that kept me sane.  Then at 7 weeks I had a scare, but all was OK.  I did for a while want to wrap myself up like you say.....but slowly, particular after 13-14 weeks I felt more confident about running in pregnancy.
I honestly wish you the best and feel free to send me a PM if you would like to chat anytime.

[downunder runner]

just wondering how all the preggo and new mums are going???

Update from me:  now in my 28th week and into the 3rd trimester! Wow. And it is getting harder to run, I can tell you that! My heart and lungs feel just fine, it is the poor old legs trying to cope with the extra weight!  I did a 'long run' this morning of about 9-10kms.  Swimming 2 or 3 times a week is great also, did not do this my first pregnancy, but loving it this time, although if I both run and swim on the same day, I feel very tired, so will probably have to cut down a bit.

Also finding my appetite is not as great - especially at night as I just feel yukko after eating a normal sized meal - small meals agree with me better - do not get reflux or heartburn with small meals.

Love to hear from you all - Fuja, sneakergal with little bub, loubee and Frank the Tank - all of you?? how are you??

[Lakeside]

Grannypace, so sorry to hear about your m/c and difficult time conceiving since.  

Mr Lakeside and I have started trying again, but no luck so far.

If we do manage to conceive in the summer, I will probably limit myself to running on the tready at the gym, in air-conditioning with my water bottle right beside me.  DH said he actually doesn't care about my running, but he doesn't want to see me coming in the door beet red dripping with sweat (as I usually am in summer).  He's worried about a 'hard boiled egg'.  Fair enough.

Goodluck downunder runner, I hope things continue to go smoothly for you.

[downunder runner]

Lakeside - thanks for your post... this 2nd baby took 3 years to concieve so I understand completely about being careful - I found I was A LOT more comfortable (emotionally and mentally) after my 13 week scan.  And it is always reassuring feeling the baby kick after each run.  

You do have age on your side (sorry, looked at your profile!!) and you are obviously very fit and healthy.   What I am NOT going to say is 'just relax' because I was SICK of hearing that!!  You know what I think helped me?  Accupunture........yep !!  there has actually been some credible research linking the higher incidence of conception combined with Accupunture - particularly done around the time of ovulation and implantation of the egg.. just a thought I wanted to share!

[downunder runner]

Just an update (and hoping to hear from others!!) 28 weeks today!!

It certainly is getting harder to run.  Again, the old heart and lungs can handle it just fine, it is the extra weight my legs have to carry around !!  I am probably running AT LEAST 1 min slower per km now and is feeling like a shuffle when I go up hills!  Luckly for me, not many of those around here.  

still, I am feeling good to get out there for a 'run' - even if it is just 30 or 40 mins most days. I am keeping up the Yoga, light weights and swimming too which I love.

fuja - how are you?  and loubee??

[downunder runner]

*bump*

[sneakergal]

downunder runner, on Nov 5 2008, 01:28 PM, said:

Just an update (and hoping to hear from others!!) 28 weeks today!!

It certainly is getting harder to run.  Again, the old heart and lungs can handle it just fine, it is the extra weight my legs have to carry around !!  I am probably running AT LEAST 1 min slower per km now and is feeling like a shuffle when I go up hills!  Luckly for me, not many of those around here.

It does get lots harder to run! But from experience I felt so much better for it. I think I ran better in my pregnancy that I do now...no i'm SURE I did. Thats sad, but I am slowly building my fitness back up, and bub is enjoying the faster views from the pram.

Congratulation on your 28th week! Its so exciting huh!?

[Nedsy]

Have just seen this thread and enjoyed reading back through the posts.  I am now 24 weeks pregnant with my second (I have a five year old).  I am enjoying a very different pregnancy this time around.  First pregnancy was IVF (5 years of treatment) which resulted in an amazing little girl.  I was strictly advised to stop running (any high impact exercise actually), put weight on, 5kg (gee, just what every body conscious female wants to hear) and MAYBE you might conceive......eventually we did and are so grateful.

So fast forward 5 years, we had moved on with life thinking that we would be a happy little family of 3.  I had resumed running with a vengance and started competing (which I had never done prior to my first child, I simply 'jogged' for fitness and enjpyment).  found out that I could run some pretty competitve times and had just run my marathon PB in Canberra in April this year (2hr47min)..when just prior to gearing up for Melb marathon training program I discovered I was pregnant (naturally!!!).  After I picked myself up off the ground, and told a bewildered husband, I had a mild panic attack thinking of what I had been doing in training...150km weeks, really tough speed/intensity sessions, a half marathon (1hr20min), 5km time trial (16min36sec), weekly long runs of 30km plus and just the day before had run a 40km long run.  Was pretty worried about the viability of the pregnancy, especially considering my history.

Doctors advised me to 'back off' the intensity sessions and quantity of sessions, but seen as though my body was conditioned to so much running they didn't see a problem with continuing to run.  So fast forward again....I was pretty sick until 17 weeks, I tried to run most days but nausea sometimes was too much to handle.  But after I started to feel better I am now still averaging 60km/weeks.  I dont run more than 12km in one run and if I'm tempted to run more (and hubby isn't around to tell me off, I may do another 5km later in day, but only twice a week).  Each week I'm still running I see as a bonus and I definately listen to my body and dont push myself.  I know I'll put enough pressure on myself once I have had the baby.

I have a few people in my life who 'get it' but mostly family members, work colleagues etc...shake their heads and think I'm doing some terrible damage to the baby....I think they just feel guilty because they dont do enough exercise themselves!  Must say that biggest challenge is running with such an increased size of bust!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man, now thats an adjustment.  Happy running and enjoy all the great things about being pregnant

[downunder runner]

Sneakergal - thanks for the encouragement - I need that today as I am feeling  yukko. I ran 7kms yesterday and felt good - like you say, it feels so much better after a run and always I feel running is EASIER than fast walking!  

Nedsy - what can I say? your story does not surprise me - running when trying to concieve your first child probably had nothing to do with your years of trying. My IVF gyno said 'keep on going' as long as I was ovulating regularly and although I was not offically underweight, some would say I was too skinny, but I know I was healthy. This 2nd pregnancy of yours shows you that your body IS healthy and functioning just beautifully....good on ya!  

You are doing very well in your running at 24 weeks. I totally understand what you mean about others (who do not run normally) making comments.  I am really getting that all the time now, since it is impossible to hide my bump.  "Doesn't your belly bounce around?"  "No, actually it does not!".  As I said in the last post, it is the poor legs and hips that are taking the extra weight - heart and lungs are just fine.

I am getting excited to make it to 30 weeks very soon and still running. I do feel a personal pressure to keep going up to the end like I did in my first pregnancy, but that is just my personality, like a lot of runners, we are determined people!!

My biggest challenge is moving interstate in 3 weeks to a hotter and humid climate (Melbs to Gold Coast)... My plan is to run for the next 3 weeks, then probably have to take a run/walk/run approach with planned water stops along the way...  cannot really see myself NOT running AT ALL... even if it is just a shuffle.

So wonderful to get a couple of posts here.........keep them up please, I need you guys !!

[Nedsy]

Downunder Runner, my goal is to reach 30 weeks and still be running, so I look at you and are inspired by your story....I imagine walk/run/walk combination will have to start at some stage after then too as you mentioned.  I concur with what you said about hips, legs and back etc   being the issue - not the tummy.  Good luck with the move, maybe water running could be your stand in for the final few weeks of your pregnancy when you reach Qld.  Means you could be in the water twice as long, not worry about core body temp etc... I just returned from 5 days in Broome (NW of WA) where it was 35deg and very humid, so had to be quite sensible (dont you hate that?  longed to be running up and down Cable Beach) but anyway, spent so much time in the pool throughout the day doing water running and some water pilates and felt fantastic.
Well done to you for another active pregnancy!  Those comments from others are driven out of envy (which spurs me on), good on you.

[Maygan]

I couldn't help but have a chuckle about the

downunder runner, on Nov 6 2008, 03:43 PM, said:

*bump*

in the thread about pregnancy!

Sorry, I know it's a lame joke.  

I must say I've never seen any obviously preganant girls out running before and until i read this thread I didn't realise people did (for all the reasons you've mentioned above).

I hope all the preggo "bumps" are going well and most importantly having fun and feeling good whether you're running or not.

[downunder runner]

*Bump* He, he!! Just for you Maygan! And quite the bump it is for me at this stage - going into my 30th week now!!

Nedsy - what a lovely post, thank you so much for your kind words. I am sure you will make it running up until this time also, and if you don't, who cares? not doubt you will still be active doing something else like deep water running (great suggestion and used to do this quite a bit ).

on the weekend I did 10kms and was SO happy with that. yesterday I did a shorter 30 mins but felt quite a bit faster, but this mornning??? ah.....too warm....just did 40 mins of slow running, walking up the little hills.

Maygan - I have seen one other pregnant lady run around in my area about a year ago......we have become friends, she now runs around with the jogger looking fantastic, and now it is my turn for her to see me do the preggo run!!

Nedsy - how many weeks are you along now??

[Nedsy]

Yeah, what a brillant effort on the w/end!  well done.  I am coming up 25 weeks now.  I also will head to the water for water running as the summer months kick in and I get further along.  feel that I can do better quality stretching with the assistance of water anyway, so its something to look forward to (really should do now, but time is my limiting factor - so choose to spend what free time I have running at this stage).
keep it up

[predator]

hi all,
congrats to all the expecting a bubby.
we are going through our first ivf cycle at the moment so I really really really hope to join this thread as a participater. until then i'll stick to the sidelines.
Wishing everyone a healthy pregnancy.

[fuja]

Great to read all the various experinces!  I am still loving my running (and riding to anf from work) - I am now nearly 14 weeks preggo (thought I was about 16 weeks but a recent scan chnaged all that).  I  pretty much breezed through the first trimester with no real issues, except feeling more tired than normal (although I compare this to the feeling of training for a marathon!).

I am only just starting to get a bump, although it is not obvious to anyone else.  It will be interesting to see how the bump affects my running........

[loubee]

My running partner is pregnant so we are going to need to split as she is a little too slow for me except on the recovery run . What sort of running weeks are you all doing? Just thought I might like to give her some idea's based on some you, she is only 10 weeks

fuja, on Nov 13 2008, 07:59 AM, said:

I am only just starting to get a bump, although it is not obvious to anyone else.  It will be interesting to see how the bump affects my running........

Fuja, running with a bump is funny. When you see other pregnant ladies you think how can they move but when it is your own bump it's just an extension of you and doesn't seem to feel at all weird. Then you get to about 35 weeks and it all changes.............

Edited by loubee, 13 November 2008 - 09:09 AM.

[grannypace]

grannypace, on Oct 23 2008, 12:08 PM, said:

Hi Lakeside,

I am so so sorry for your loss. I have just read your post and cannot help but see the parallels between our situations. I too lost a pregancy at 8 weeks - the week before Xmas last year: Ho ho ho... Merry bloody Christmas  

I couldn't face work for a couple of days afterwards and so spent the time under the dooner. My mother-in-law dropped by to see how I was, and she suggested that I should think about the amount I was running... As it turned out, it was a 'missed miscarriage' and the running had nothing to do with causing the miscarriage.

We have not been able to conceive since, but my main concern when we do conceive was that I would have to wrap myself in cotton wool for fear of losing another one. I now know that this is not the case. Let your body tell you what you should and should not be doing. There are too many people who make unfounded, uneducated sweeping conclusions about what is, and is not safe during pregnancy.

If and when we finally do conceive, I will continue to run as long as my body lets me. Until then... I am aiming for a full marathon to keep me focused on something other than falling pregnant.

As for the negativity... I don't see you as being negative. I completely appreciate that its difficult enough to lose the hopes and plans with a lost pregnancy, let alone having others imply that it's your fault.

Good luck with the baby plans! Baby dust and baby Puma runners for you!

GP

Update...

I am UP THE DUFF!!!!!!    

It feels like an eternity, but FINALLY its happened! Am only 4 weeks, but my body already feels like it's been hijacked, so the hormones are strong. We are so excited. I have had to tell my running partner as I have backed off the running for the next few weeks... am only walking now, given the heat. But I will be giving it a crack to maintain the runs.

I have been completely inspired by everyone's posts. I think its a great forum to maintain confidence in the benefits of running during pregnancy, despite the negativity from those that don't understand.

Keep up the great work girls!!!

GP

[Nedsy]

A HUGE congrats to you GP!!!! wow, thats just brillant.  Bring on the hormones, all signs of a strong pregnancy!

[downunder runner]

hi ladies!!

Nedsy - sounds like you are doing wonderfully too!! I know what you mean about time - swimming is great, but you have to be more organised, get there, swim, shower etc...it is easier to run in many ways. this is what I find hardest about doing triathlons -   training for all 3 sports and fitting it all in, and with two young ones soon? that will be interesting.

Predator - so nice of you to drop in to the thread. The very best of luck on IVF...it is not easy at times, and MOST DO not get lucky the first time around, but  hang in there and know that it will happen!

fuja - how lucky you are to have breezed through the 1st trimester. I was a total zombie by 7pm everynight.  Now? well,  I am now in my 30th week, and this morning's run in the rain was just BEAUTIFUL.  Only 30mins but ran every step and enjoyed the peace and joy that running brings.

Loubee - your running partner is SO lucky to have YOU!! How nice that at least you can do recovery runs together.  I was doing I think 15-18kms runs at 10 weeks preggo - now my longest run was 10kms last weekend, but that is ONLY if it is cool enough... mostly I am doing 5-8 kms runs 5 times a week now, some of these runs include short walk breaks of 30 secs or so.  I swim laps 2 times a week also and yoga class once a week and try to do light weights program at home 2 times a week also.

This is enough for me. I was doing more with my first pregnancy, but bub was due in Nov, this time I am going into my last 8-10 weeks over the middle of a QLD summer, so that changes a lot, since I am not  used to the humidity (moving in 2 weeks time !! from Melbourne).

keep up the healthy and safe running everyone!!!!!!!  Hey, and it is OK to have a rest day now and again too you know!!

[Melruns]

Hello everyone.  Well, at the grand old age of 35 I've just had my Implanon taken out and we are going to try to get pregnant.  I am fully and sadly aware that in 12 months time I may be going to see an IVF doc but right now we're hoping for a bit of luck in not needing any intervention to make it happen.

Your running stories are great to read.  I'm not anticipating too much censure from the family - my MIL played touch football up to 30 weeks and sister in law did the Noosa 5k at 18 weeks.  My mum asked if I planned to keep on running.  I said yes and she said fair enough.

Fingers crossed....

[downunder runner]

hi melruns!!

hey, you still have a fair bit of time up your sleeve !! The very best of luck to you and your partner !! Wow, and the thought of playing touch football up to 30 weeks is quite amazing........running seems easier to me, but it just all comes down to what we are used to, hey?

I am now 31 weeks - went for a 5km run this morning (and 8kms on the weekend) and it is getting HARD work on the legs.  I am probably doing a slow 6min pace now...so still not a shuffle, but compared to my 4min pace, it feels like it!  this week is also HUGE because we are moving interstate on friday to QLD..... so you can imagine the chaos with packing, organsing, cleaning and looking after my JUST turned 6 year old.

looking forward to hearing how others are doing!!!!!!!!!!!