Running/Exercising while pregnant

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Gymfreak Sep 2018 2:02pm, 17 Sep 2018 9,323 posts	0 Gymfreak Hello. I'm a bit unsure about how hard or not it's ok to do things...... I know there's that silly old wives tale of not going over 140bpm which we can now ignore, but I am a bit paranoid about some stuff still. Unfortunately, I've been advised I can't run at all during pregnancy. I'm walking a lot though (yawn) and doing some cycling. At 18 weeks, people are now telling me I should really stick to doing things inside rather than on the roads in case a car hits me. Well, I suppose this is a valid point although I don't really feel ready yet to give up but if something happened I'd not forgive myself. Instead, I have done some riding on a spin/watt bike. I've been doing the spin classes 'easy', and the 'easy' power I'm putting out is obviously less than pre-pregnancy, but my HR is a lot higher for the same effort level. My 'easy' is normally like 130bpm on a bike. What I'm doing would have probably been 120bpm pre-pregnancy, but is now coming out more like 150bpm. Does that mean I need to go even easier?!?! It would feel like nothing. Or is it expected that HR will just be higher with another human inside? Thanks
HappyG(rrr) Sep 2018 2:14pm, 17 Sep 2018 29,197 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) I think I said it on FB, but huge congrats GF. Oh, sorry, don't know anything about running and preggers. I'm sure you'll be awesome either way! G
Jock Itch Sep 2018 2:16pm, 17 Sep 2018 12,645 posts	0 Jock Itch Wow ! congrats xx
Sweetie Sep 2018 3:12pm, 17 Sep 2018 3,141 posts	0 Sweetie Hi Gymfreak, many congrats! I am sure some of the better qualified fetchies will be along soon but I used a book 'Exercising through your pregnancy' by Dr James Clapp and he suggest that heart rate becomes a less predictable measure of exercise effort in pregnancy due to changes in blood volume and vessel dilation. He suggests using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion as a better measure - while paying particular attention to staying well hydrated and not overheating.
Gymfreak Sep 2018 11:45am, 18 Sep 2018 9,324 posts	0 Gymfreak Thanks everyone, including my stupid husband rolls eyes Sweetie, that's useful thanks. Makes sense as the 150bpm really does still feel easy so as long as it feels 'easy' then I guess that's the main thing. The spinning room isn't the coolest, and I sweat buckets but I guess all ok as long as I drink loads
halfpint Sep 2018 11:50am, 18 Sep 2018 26,397 posts	0 halfpint Congratulations! I can't help with the question but I would have thought that if you are fit and healthy then as long as you don't over exert yourself you can keep doing whatever you like.
The_Saint Sep 2018 12:48pm, 18 Sep 2018 6,322 posts	0 The_Saint I was thinking that as old wives tales go, that one sounds quite hi-tech
HappyG(rrr) Sep 2018 9:09am, 19 Sep 2018 29,203 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Wish we could tag people - katypie, Smout and other local Scottish Fetchies were running marathons either knowingly or unknowingly while pregnant, I seem to remember. I'm sure they'd have some useful insights. Keeping well GF? Don't overdo it, as I know you're a total training monster sometimes! G
Gymfreak Sep 2018 10:54am, 19 Sep 2018 9,325 posts	0 Gymfreak Yeah I'm keeping well. And you're right :)G, this has been a total change of lifestyle lol. I'd actually had to back off a lot during fertility treatment, so it's been gradual rather than a big adjustment, but I'm just cycling or walking once a day, and most weeks I have had a complete rest day. I did spinning this morning I'm just knackered all the time, but I think that's just par for the course Plus I'm not exactly a spring chicken for all this first time mum stuff!
HappyG(rrr) Sep 2018 9:42am, 20 Sep 2018 29,211 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) You're a darn sight younger than my wee sis who is just having her first in Dec/Jan! Just take it easy. Lol at "just cycling... once a day". That would be serious athletic endeavour for most folk! I'm sure others will pop along with more useful info soon. Rest up now mum to be. G