First time mother - what to do and not to do

[DH273]

Hi ! I am a 35 year old and I just found out that I am pregnant. The doctor seems to be good. Advices not to eat Papaya fruit in any form and to avoid any exertion. So I stopped my gym routine and yoga classes. I feel a bit un fit now. I also feel a tendency to sleep more. My body feels. Bit bloated . Is this normal ? Can I do some form of exercise? I see some pre natal yoga links on you tube but not sure if any one here has tried and tested them .. Please help!

DH


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[dreamgate]

Exercise is not forbidden during "normal" pregnancy. Best you can do is asking your doctor what you can do or not.

 

[BEAu]

Hi DH273,

I'm 36 and first time pregnant. I've actually been doing prenatal Pilates and I find it to be very helpful. It's very gentle nothing hard core. It really helps boost my energy. Because I am currently not working I don't do much but rest at home so I know what you mean by feeling unfit. I started my Pilates classes at 17 weeks, now 30 weeks. However lots of girls in my class started as soon as 8 weeks. So as long as you get the ok from your doctor, I don't see why you can't do some exercise.

Blythe


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[evgreen]

With yoga, it really depends on who you ask. Some women practice through the entire pregnancy with no problems at all. Although, many traditional practitioners will advise not to practice yoga at all during first trimester (since this is the time that the body is most vulnerable to miscarriage). I personally don't practice yoga during the first trimester, but take it easy with some walking and swimming instead. I'm on my second pregnancy now and starting yoga again going into my 12th week. Generally, unless you have some kind of pregnancy complication, exercise and (light) yoga should be fine during the entire pregnancy.

 

[btc]

Bloating and tiredness are common symptoms of early pregnancy

If you were active before pregnancy then generally you can continue on with exercising once pregnant (if it's a normal pregnancy). Every pregnancy is different, I continued with my exercise routine but went easier as I was more tired. Some women stop for the first trimester as they suffer from morning sickness and fatigue, and the last thing they feel like is exercising.

Yoga, swimming and walking are all popular pregnancy exercises. Many people continue running throughout their pregnancy. The important thing is to listen to your body and not over-exert yourself. General advice is to make sure intensity is low enough for you to hold a normal conversation while exercising and to drink enough water.

 

[DH273]

Thanks to all of you who replied.. I had a scan yesterday and the doc could still only see the foetal sack. The pulse has not yet come and hence she thinks it's around the 4.5 weeks stage now. Have a scan again in two weeks. I feel that is too close for the next scan but since it's my first pregnancy I have nothing to compare against. Is it normal for privAte clinic gynecologist to call for scans in two weeks intervals ?

The exercise routine, I think I will do some light walking for now. Will abstain from yoga and may start it once I am sure .

Any prohibitions on taking massages ? Can I go for a half body massage ? Or even just afoot spa?

Thanks
DH


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[DH273]

And yes it's a normal pregnancy


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[dreamgate]

there are so many different points of view concerning Do and Don't during pregnancy or what you can eat or not that I would recommend you to ask your doctor...

 

[BebeG922]

Hello DH23,

I am so sorry you are getting such poor advice. I would gather a second even third opinion. As someone who has always been active, I find it appalling and nonsensical that any medical doctor would dispense with such old-wives folkish advice.

Unless you are deemed high-risk (yes I know given your *age* your doctor may deem you high risk) such as having an incompetent cervix or have an increased risk of miscarriage (if you have had miscarriages before), then YOU should be exercising.

I am now in my 2nd trimester and have gotten the opinions of 3 doctors. 2 out of 3 gave me the okay to continue working out. Granted nothing overly strenuous such as starting a marathon.

The less you move and the less active you are the more bloated, fatigued and disgusting you will feel. The advice I have also received from women who have been there done that (such as my helper, my masseuse and friends who have all had kids, granted yes I understand they are not medical experts) is that YOU should move and exercise. It will help you when the onset of labor starts and help make your labor a smooth one.

IN my first trimester, I got turned away by a lot of places in Hong Kong, including the Pilates studio I frequented. It is in my humble opinion that Chinese and Hong Kong-ers are extremely conservative, perhaps to an uneducated fault when it comes to pregnancy. You are pregnant, not disabled. Exercise does not bring on miscarriage as relayed to me by my close friend, a PharmD, and by a relative, who is a practicing medical doctor in the U.S.

If in doubt, you can always reference What To Expect When You're Expecting, Pregnancy, Baby, Babies, Toddler, Parenting -- WhatToExpect.com
I have a copy of the book but sometimes still use the online web site as a reference. In the meantime, get moving but just don't start any marathons or go sky-diving.

Best of luck!

 

[BebeG922]

DH,

yes most private docs want you to return frequently to help cover their rent and put them in them in the black. I ignored what the private OB said here and cross-referenced with the doc in the U.S. as I have found it excessive.