Exercise related-is this normal?

I've always been a cardio girl and I love going on the elliptical and treadmill.

Since getting PG (and even a few days before), when I work out, once I start picking up the pace or intensity (nothing insane though), I start to feel really tight cramping where baby is (I'm 6 weeks). To me that doesn't seem normal and I slow down, and it goes away.

So the past week and a half I walked slower (like 2.5-2.8) on the treadmill.

What is that weird painful cramping from? I'm petrified to harm the baby but I feel like I still want to feel like I really worked out good.

Help!

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I am sure its just from everything stretching and making room for the baby.. There were alot of times in the beginning when I would take the dog for a walk and turn around half way through because of cramps or a tight pulling feeling.


If it really hurts you then take a break from the treadmill until your dr's appointment

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I was in Step class last week and had cramping similar to what you're talking about and I was even on a lower riser than I usually use. I asked a more pregnant girl in the class about it and she said it was totally normal and just stretching and to call the nurse just for peace of mind.

I called the nurse at my OB's office and she said that your body becomes much more flexible and your joints stretch more than ever before when you're pregnant and that down in your hips/groin/pelvis your body is already getting ready to be able to push the baby through so the parts move easily. It's easy to strain or over-stretch the area too, but that pain when you're working out is normal since it's probably just stretching. She did recommend I cut back on the intensity when it feels uncomfortable or take more breaks than usual.

HTH!

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I had that too in the beginning and I opted to start walking instead of continuing with my regular gym routine

I just started taking prenatal yoga though and thats been awesome and they are really careful about positions and how you stretch- so I would recommend finding that type of class

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

Maybe you should try to hydrate yourself more before you start exercising? Whenever I have any tightness, it is usually because I have not had enough to drink. It is worse for me on hot days, so maybe when you are sweating during a workout you are just losing too much water....

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I would take it easy a bit, just to be on the safe side.

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

just take it easy . i was always taught to listen to your body.

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I dont' know what it may be but my doctor advised me to stay off the treadmill during the pregnancy. I used to run 4-5 miles a day 5X a week. He said the general rule is not to have your heartbeat over 140 for more than 10 minutes. Hope you feel better!!!

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I wouldn't worry about it.
That happened to me early on when I did too much. It's just your body telling you to slow down.

Re: Exercise related-is this normal?

I talk to my obgyn about exercise all the time. I've had a few incidents like that and she told me to STOP. You should not feel any pain in your belly or va-jay-jay area - that is a sign to slow down the intensity.
I was running in the beginning but I stopped at about 5 weeks. My dr said to stick with elliptical and the bike and to listen to my body (don't get too tired, crampy or hot -- over heating is very bad), drink a lot of water and try not to get the heart rate above 140. If you dont have a heart rate monitor, get one asap if you plan on continuing to work out.
Same is true for lifting - do not go above 140.
If you are a worry wort (like me) you may want to sign up for a few personal training sessions with a trainer certified to train pregnant women to learn more about what you can and cannot do and to learn how to modify certain exercises.