Cardio Kickboxing Ok??

Hi V.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope it goes smoothly!

My suggestion is to talk to your OB/GYN about working out and what your level should be. You should let your instructors know that you are pregnant and ask them to modify your workouts to ensure you do not doing anything that can harm you or your baby. I would find someone who specializes in prenatal workouts such at Baby Boot Camp, prenatal yoga, etc. Your main focus should be on a healthy and safe pregnancy.

I own a Baby Boot Camp franchise which is stroller fitness for prenatal and postpartum women. It does not look like there is one in your area but it's a great program. My area didn't have anything like it so I started my own business and LOVE it!

Good luck,

J.

Hi Vicki,
I too, was training for a triathlon when I found out I was prego the first time. I ran 13mi two days before taking the preg. test! My doc said I could've done the race, as long as I took it easy and really watched my hydration. I didn't continue, though. I started getting really nauseaus, and then unable to train as much. I also took my temp several times during a long run and it was always getting way too high (it was summer also). I kept jogging small runs and doing other training; but stopped the hard core heavy stuff-- it just wasn't worth it to me; esp now as I see my healthy, lovable son! Good luck and congrads on the pregnancy!

V.,

If you have been working out and are in good shape, you can continue to do so while you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about it as soon as possible to get guidelines.

When I was pregnant with my 1st child (15 yrs ago) I was doing Step Aerobics and was encouraged by my doctor to continue but to keep close tabs on my heart rate not letting it get over 120bpm. I continued working out until my 5th month when my gym asked me to quit because of their inadequate A/C in the aerobics room, which was upstairs. They refunded my money and I took a water aerobics classs from the local community college.

I also went backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness with my husband at 5 1/2 mos pregnant after speaking with my doctor about it and getting guidelines from him.

Pregnancy is natural and for years women worked at hard manual labor up to the day they delivered their baby and then went right back to work. If you are worried or there are factors involved that may predispose you toward a miscarriage, take it easy. Remember that your body is designed specifically to protect the fetus from most anything. Congratulations and take care...including staying in great physical shape.

I taught cardio kickboxing all through out my pregnancy, as well as ran, lifted weights, do step, etc. But, I made sure to check with my doctor first. I know many moms who were advised to wear a HRM and keep it below a certain range (<150bpm), and that is one way to make sure you are not doing too much. I did not do that, rather my OB told me to listen to my body, and keep well hydrated through out your workout to help keep your core temperature close to normal, since a fetus cannot regulate its body temperature.

I hope this helps :)

Go for it! My cardio kickboxing teacher taught her class up until a month before she gave birth! It was amazing to watch her, 8 months preggo and kicking our butts in class! I asked her about it one day (because I am trying to get pregnant) and she said that as long as I had been doing the class that it should be ok to continue after becoming pregnant, especially if your body it used to exercising. (She wouldn't recommend starting a cardio kickboxing after you've found out! LOL!) As always, consult your doc, but I just wanted to share my teachers story.

HI V.,

I have a healthy baby girl who is 7 months old and I did Cardio Kickboxing a lot while i was prego. I wore a band under my belly when i got too big and probably stopped around 7 1/2 months because I had a scare but it turned out to be nothing. You just can't do contact KB and you have to modify your jumping jacks and such when you get bigger. I ran 3 miles up until my 5th month but of course like a snail. ha ha!!! I could barely walk 1 mile by the time i was 8 months. HOly moley!! Those days are NOT so fun! I hope this helps.

I would talk to your doctor, but mine doesn't want my heart rate above 140. I bought a heart rate monitor and for me, had to stop spin because it was too frustrating to hold myself back and keep my heart rate where it should be. So, I'm stuck on the treadmill!

Hi V.,

Congrats on the new baby. I use to teach cardio kickboxing classes and I did with my first pregnancy through my fourth month. You just need to watch your heart rate. I don't remember what they want you to stay under so I would ask your dr. You would probably want to stop when you get bigger due to your balance being off. As far as swimming goes I did it all the way through both my pregnancy's and running and cycling untill my balance was affected. Just use common sense so you don't take a bad fall. Good luck!

My doctor says as long as it's an activity that you've been doing regularly in the past, then it's ok to continue. With my son, I kickboxed until my 8th month (after my belly dropped, it was harder to move around).

I was careful, and didn't do any contact kickboxing (our class teamed up and held pads for each other to kick, which I didn't do), and I also avoided doing anything which required me to lie on my back. I modified all the exercises that I felt were unsafe.

I'm pregnant with my 2nd and am still kickboxing. It's great exercise and a good mood lifter.

Happy exercising!

From what my OB said, just as long as you are doing what you've been doing, there should be no problem. My OB gave me the OK to walk the Nike 1/2 Marathon when I was 36 weeks! It was a great experience! If in doubt, ask your OB.

Good luck!

Congratualtions! Like most all others have said, check with your doctor first. I know many mom's, myself included, that worked out (spinning, running, cardio kick box, etc) through their entire pregnancy. I think working out keep me comfortable during my pregancy, helped with labor and got me back into my pre-prego jeans a few days after I gave my birth!

Take Care,
A.

You can continue doing any exercise you have been doing as long as your body is used to it. Athletes continue to train even when they are prego because that is what they are used to doing. I would just pay attention to how you feel. If you aren't feeling good then take it down a bit.

I was running until I was 4 months and did pilates until the week I delivered. I highly recommend pilates while you are pregnant even if you've never done it before as it can be modified to all levels. It is a great workout for your pelvic floor muscles and believe me you need them during delivery. They help tip the babies head into an ideal position during delivery! Plus you will have fewer issues afterwards if your pelvic floor is in good shape before you deliver.

Hi Vicki,

So long as you were avidly working out everyday prior to getting pregnant you can safely maintain all the activities you were participating in so long as you are confortable and have a low risk pregnancy. Activities like scuba diving, gymnastics, horse back riding, or any other sport that has a higher risk of falls or elbows to the abdomen (think basketball) should be avoided. With Cardio Kickboxing you're going to want to be very careful with the kicks and punches as your pregnancy progresses due to the effects of relaxin on the body. It makes your tendons and ligmanets "relax" which can lead to sprains and strains.

Talk with you doctor at your first appt. And if you have a while before that first visit, see if you can at least talk to them on the phone about your exercise options.

Also, be sure to see check out www.babybootcamp.com Baby Boot Camp is a stroller fitness program that offers pre and post natal moms and dads safe and effective fitness classes where your child gets to stay with you. Baby Boot Camp follow the guidelines set by ACOG (American College of Obsterics) for prenatal and post partum fitness. All of their instructors MUST be a nationally certified personla trainer or group fitness instructor PLUS have additional training in prenatal and post partum fitness.

Staying fit during your pregnacy make labor and delivery easier so check out Baby Boot Camp so you can get back to being active again.

V.,

I have four children and worked out through each pregnancy until the very end. I am a group exercise instructor and have a hard time going a day without working out. I ran, did step, kickboxing, cardio kickboxing and weight training through my last pregnancy atleast 6 days a week up to the day before I delivered. My doctor told me that as long as I had been active before my pregnancy I would be fine to continue as long as I felt up to it (you may have to modify as you get further along)and they found nothing to worry about during my check ups. As long as you get the thumbs up from your doctor, I say go for it. Keeping yourself fit and healthy makes for an easier pregnancy - at least it did for me.

Hope this helps!!

Hi V.,

I would definitely check with your doctor. For the most part though, I think you're okay until later in your pregnancy, especially since you've been doing this for awhile. The exercise actually helps you stay strong and will definitely help you later on in your term and after giving birth as well.

Where do you go to kickboxing? I have been looking to start but have not been able to find a class nearby.

Thanks,

L.

V.,

Congrats on the new baby. I run and love to work out. I ran a marathon when I was 3 months pregnant and a few 10k races up until about 6 months. I continued to run and take high impact aerobics classes through 9 months plus (I was 11 days late). The main thing is to listen to your body and don't let your heart rate get too high. There were days when I was too tired or something felt a little uncomfortable, so I just walked and worked out easy. I worked out every day of my pregnancy and had a very healthy 8.5 lb. baby boy (now 11). Good luck!

As a trainer and an instructor, I would say to continue with your workouts, however, be very aware of the changes your body is undergoing. It sounds like you are not a newbie to working out, so you know how your body feels after each class or session on a treadmill. I would recommend wearing a heart rate monitor. I am glad to hear that the tri training has ceased, however, being pregnant doesn't mean that you need to stop everything. I'd just tone down the intensity and perhaps walk quickly at an incline rather than run.
Good luck!!

In general, you are supposed to keep your heartrate under 140 to be sure the baby is getting enough oxygen. I would probably take a break until it's time to lose the baby weight.

I don't know about the rest of it, but the spinning class should be ok. My cousin taught a spin class up until a few days before she had her son. Also, swimming should be fine. I have a friend who swam most of her pregnancy. You really need to ask your doctor though, because what is ok for one is not ok for all.

Hi Vicki,

My doctor advised me when I was pregnant that whatever I was doing before, I could keep doing, as long as I didn't experience any discomfort or let my heartrate get over 140 beats per minute. (count your heart rate for six seconds and then multiply by ten) Case in point - I didn't know that I was pregnant and completed the Rock & Roll Marathon (in 4:23! =)) Of course, I cut down from those long runs once I found out but continued to run up until I was probably 7 months pregnant. Exercise is good for you and your baby.

Congratulations and have a great day!

I would say kickboxing isn't something I would continue. Exercise yes. You will notice the bigger you get the harder it will be to do certain things. Just listen to your body. If you start to feel cramping or to much pressure then you need to tone it down. I'm a little over 5 months and I'm still doing my spinn class and cardio. Talk to your doctor... Hope that helps

I have 3 kids and was never told to stop exercising. I would talk with your doctor. I know women who run the Boston Marathon at 6 months pregnant and are in great shape. I know how much time and effort is put into training for an event and although having a baby is the best thing in the world, it would be great to not have to give up all that training and still be able to complete your event. Congratulations! Plus exercising has many benefits for the various pregnancy symptoms you may encounter such as naseau, weight control, stress, etc. Good luck.

I took an early morning bootcamp class with a lady who found out, four months into the class, she was pregnant. She had the same concerns that all the exercise was going to be harmful. What she was told is that because she normally exercised, including running, was that it would not harm her baby.

If working out is what you have always done, then there is no reason to stop.

Congratuations and good luck.