Yoga, Pilates, and Cycling

Hi, K.,

I've spent hundreds of hours reading and talking to medical practitioners including reproductive endocrinologists, immunologists, perinatologists, nurses, acupuncturists, etc. because I struggled with infertility and went through several rounds of high-tech and low-tech infertility treatment. I've never heard of any "tummy workouts" negatively impacting fertility. Keep up the good work in your exercise regimen.

I gained more weight than I should have (40 pounds, and I'm only 5'3") for a variety of reasons during my first pregnancy. I was ordered not to exercise the first four months of my pregnancy, so I did not exercise for almost half of that pregnancy. I ate too many high-calorie foods, esp. dessert, probably as a result of giving into temptation around Thanksgiving and Christmas and taking prednisone, which often makes people gain weight and increases people's appetite, which makes people gain weight. The weight gain and two c-sections have left me with a kangaroo pouch that I will never get rid of. I weigh 106 pounds and exercise with a trainer but still have that pouch!

Best wishes,
L. E

Slowing it down a little might help but if your simply continuing something you've been doing for a long while it shouldn't make any difference. I had a girlfriend who did a cycling class until the day before she delivered twins. We were in the same class and she kicked my butt every class! The only activities my doctor wanted me to avoid were riding horses and skiing, neither of which I was rushing out to do anyway! You can always meet with your doctor and talk about your excercize and diet. And remember the process of making a baby can be quite a work out. I bet your hubby would be ok with the idea of you skiping a yoga class and 'work out' with him instead!

I love those same activities. They should not effect your ability to conceive. Once you do get pregnant and your body starts to change, you will need to change the way you do some poses etc. to accomodate your growing and changing body.
If you are REALLY active and super lean, you might want to tone it down if you find you are having a hard time conceiving. It took me 2 years to get pregnant simply becasue I became too lean from a lot of exercise. You should be fine though and the tummy exercises will not affect anything in the beginning.

It sounds like you're really in shape, which is great. If you have a really low fat ratio (barely any fat) I've heard that sometimes it takes longer to get pregnant - I don't know if that's true - look into it. The exercises you're doing are fine during early to mid pregnancy, then lighten them up near the end.

I got prenatal yoga and pilates dvd's, that way I knew what I was doing was safe. As for the cycling, I was HUGE into it, but you have to keep your heart rate below 140 to be safe for the baby, so I don't rec. it. I walked and did other workouts stair stepper... weights, pilates and yoga like I said, my ENTIRE pg even the day I was in labor. I swear that's what made my delivery SO easy w/no drugs. Your muscles are ready and in shape for the labor.

Talk to your doctor to get the best advice but yoga is definitely okay throughout pregnancy. There are special pregnancy yoga classes that you can take or if you want to continue the class you're currently in just let the instructor know that you are pregnant and he/she can help you to modify some of the poses if necessary.

Being healthy and fit is the best way to go! Don't stop your workout until you are far into the pregnancy and your OBGYN tells you to! If you excersize throughout the pregnancy, the weight will come off so much faster after! Just be sure to tell your doc what you do once you get pregnant and he/she will give you guidelines. Good Luck!

Hi K.,

Talk to you power yoga teacher -- there may be concern about how heated up you get (you don't want to get overheated while pregnant), and my power yoga teacher recommended I not do any of the twisting or bridging poses.

Definitely keep up an exercise program, though -- just like now, regular (appropriate) exercise will keep you feeling great!!

Good luck!!!

Hi K.. I teach poweryoga, and I'm pregnant for the 2nd time, so I thought I'd weigh in. I think it's really fine for you to continue everything you're doing for now. When you're ovulating you might consider taking a couple of days off. For those two weeks before you know for sure, the only thing I'd skip in your yoga practice are deep twists (crescent prayer twist, for e.g......keep your hand to the inside of your foot and don't "crank it").....also, try to avoid overheating in everything you're doing. Generally, doctors will tell you to keep your heart rate around 140 beats/minute, but if you're a super-athlete, it's fine if it's a little higher. The heat is the real issue...you can sweat to cool off, but the baby can't, so don't let it get to the point where you're flushed in the face. Hope this helps. Also, try not to get too focused on this with charts and your temperature and all that...it'll take all the fun out of it, and it's much less likely to happen than if you're relaxed about it. If you have any questions you can always email me at my website www.allyhamilton.com
Best of luck, I'm sure you'll be prego in no time!

If you have no problems conceiving (you'll find that out over the next while) no problem doing everything that you normally do - given your Dr. says it's ok.

If you turn out to have fertility problems - depending on your Dr., they (and studies support) recommend limited (almost none) working out while trying to conceive!

That was torture for me, I had two rounds of IVF - and was blessed with a little girl! Don't worry about gaining weight if you have to stop working out - it comes off. I was 43 when I had my daughter, had to stop working out for 6 months (pre-conception and first 3 months of pregnancy). As soon as they allowed me to workout - I did (not intense) and after my daughter was born had more trouble keeping weight on than taking it off! Good luck!!!