Exercise Myths About Pregnancy
If your doctor has cleared you for exercise, and your pregnancy is not considered high-risk, don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do to stay fit.
One of the most essential things I do for my physical and mental health is exercise. I don’t think people realize how exercise is not necessarily an aesthetic hobby; for me, it’s a stress reliever and a chance to stay in control of my health as best I can.
During my first trimester, I could barely get out of bed. I was vomiting all the time, sleeping constantly, and depressed and anxious. Second trimester, things got a lot better (though not without some remaining issues, like insomnia and having to pee 50 times a night. Oh, and acid reflux.)
In any case, I started to pick up my gym routine again. It’s a lot different than when I wasn’t pregnant. For instance, I clocked around 30 miles jogging on a typical week. I did about an hour of weight training, too. And again, it wasn’t to look sexy (though looking fit is always a confidence-booster). It was to maintain my current weight and keep my heart healthy and my bones and muscles strong. Women nearing middle age/ in middle age are losing a lot of muscle mass and different problems may crop up due to hormonal issues. That’s why it’s essential to stay as fit as you can and make healthy choices.
The other day, while at the YMCA, I was doing some weight lifting after walking on a treadmill for about two miles. I noticed an older man watching me as I did some goblet squats with a 20 pound dumbbell. Then he came over to me and he either said “don’t you have that baby now” or “don’t you harm that baby now.” I just smiled, partly because I couldn’t understand exactly what he said because machines and music at the gym were so loud, and then because I didn’t really want to engage.
Later when I got home, I thought about his comments more, and I got angry. Why would a man who knows nothing about my pregnancy tell me that? Maybe it was a joke, but it wasn’t funny.
I get so incensed by people’s ignorance about exercise during pregnancy. Several family members, too, have told me “oh, you can’t workout now.” And it’s so frustrating and controlling. Does the general public think that pregnant people should just lie on the sofa all day for fear that movement will kill a baby?
My doctor gave me the go-ahead to exercise, so I exercise to a modified routine. (Now, I jog/walk instead of running a 5k every time I step on a treadmill, and I usually do 10 miles a week.) Weight lifting hasn’t changed much, except that I don’t do many abdominal exercises.
Research shows that exercise doesn’t cause miscarriage. In most cases, early miscarriages are due to genetic abnormalities. In fact, exercise, within your comfort level during pregnancy, helps prevent issues like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
I know with my pregnancy, I can’t control some weight gain. (From the start of my 27th week, I’ve gained 20 pounds. My clothes don’t fit and seeing that number on the scale makes me nervous.) But I can control the choices I make through diet and exercise, and for this or possible future pregnancies, I won’t let anyone pressure me to stop exercising or feel guilty about continuing a modified regimen. (Not to mention staying as fit as you can during pregnancy helps with a faster recovery and weight loss in the future.)
So, that’s my spiel.
Updates
I’m still behind on finding an interview for Invisible Voices, but April is just about to start, and I know I will. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed regarding disability, chronic illness, or mental health issues, please reach out to me. Our voices are important!