I have a marathon coming up in a few weeks, and am pretty sure it will fall about a week after ovulation. My husband and I were thinking of TTC before the race …. And hopefully just be blissfully unaware of the outcome either way until after race day. We feel very ready, though on the other hand I don’t want to sabotage this race if the timing would negatively impact my performance - I think I’d be willing to wait another month as I feel close to in PR shape. For context — I’ve read a lot and I know many people say it’s fine and not to plan around the what ifs with TTC—However, in the past I’ve conceived very easily (not always with full term success) for example I had two back to back CP/early MC about 6m ago and we have purposely avoided since then. We do have 2 living children as well. Anyone who could share a story about finding out they’re pregnant right after a marathon and how that went would be very appreciated! I realize this is a pretty specific situation😁

Hey fit ladies! 21 weeks along here and trying to get my cardio in. I’ve been loving the Peloton but wondering if this is the best setup for my pelvic floor as my pregnancy progresses.

Does anyone have tips or products to help support? I was going to look into seat pads on Amazon but wanted to poll here first for any suggestions!

Tia!

I have hit massive fatigue this pregnancy in the first trimester especially chasing my toddler which is so fun but exhausting! I took a long break from the gym but I’m back lifting heavy and I feel SO much better. Higher energy after lifting and have a lot of support from my husband 🙌

Anyone else lifting heavy? What’s your workout split?

Did 5 miles total hiking at Woody Ridge last week! 3000 total elevation going up in 2.5 miles. Felt great. Been doing stair master in place of running and definitely prepared me for the hike. I wish I lived near mountains to hike more. Felt really strong and proud of myself after 💪💫

Hey everyone! I’ve just hit 22 weeks and the last week or so I’ve been struggling with extremely sore muscles and trouble sleeping because of it. I assume I’m just going through a large growth spurt, but wondering if anyone else had a similar experience around this time?

I’ve still managed to maintain my strength training 3X a week but even with 4 recovery days my muscles just haven’t been bouncing back like they usually do.

I'm unable to run, if I do, I get serious pelvic girdle pains which is making even walking difficult.

I'm considering consulting a pelvic floor expert, but is there anything that helped you all continue running during 2nd and 3rd trimesters?

I was able to run in my 1st trimester, but it's become really hard at 23 weeks. Any advice would help so much, I just want to get back to running.

I am 6 months postpartum and had SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction) pain since about 20 weeks pregnant. My pain manifested as a lot of groin pain and difficulty doing anything unless my legs were together. I pretty much stopped working out after 25 weeks and just walked when I could but even that aggravated the pain.

I am now 6 months postpartum and I still feel ‘off’. My groin is sore pretty much every day and my pelvis has a feeling of instability. I have been to a pelvic floor PT and wasn’t super impressed but I will admit I haven’t done the exercises very diligently. I hope to see an orthopedic dr but one of my problems is that what I am feeling is so hard to describe. It’s like diffuse pelvis pain, adductor strain, groin strain, difficulty with unilateral stuff (but not as bad as pregnancy). I have moderate scoliosis so I am sure that doesn’t help either. I’ve stopped breastfeeding 2.5 months ago so I think my relaxin levels are maybe back to normal idk?

I was pretty active before pregnancy and was able to lift fairly heavy (squats, deadlifts etc). Has anyone been on this journey with SPD? I thought this would resolve with delivery and it has mostly but I feel so old and rickety. I had a very long unmedicated labor (epidural didn’t work) with 5 hours of pushing and sunny side up baby.

If anyone has a long journey with SPD type pain, we’d appreciate your input here!

Hi! 3 weeks pp, had an incredibly fit pregnancy (ran over 1700 miles, lifted the night before my water broke). I’ve had a great recovery (c section, she was breech) but I’m feeling a little anxious that I’ll never feel like myself again and will never have core strength again. I know a lot of is the lack of sleep and pp hormones still regulating / still healing and I’m not expecting much for months! Just looking for some hope / stories of when you felt a bit more sunny and more like yourself pp

I started at a local STRONG at 12m PP and have absolutely loved it (now 17m PP). Now 5w pregnant and wondering if I can make it until their 15w threshold. I worked out throughout my last pregnancy but was doing heavy lifting, not the kind of intensity of STRONG.

I'm confident in adapting as I go on my own (I'm a health professional) but given my wild morning sickness last pregnancy I'm skeptical if I'll make it through the first trimester. Keen to hear from any other members if you've kept up with it, what was your experience?

I did it! 🥹

This race completed my most difficult training season by far. Between the extreme heat we’ve had and my pregnancy symptoms (at one point I threw up three times within a mile during the start of a long run) I really questioned if this would even be possible for me. I also struggled mentally with the loss of fitness I have experienced, especially over the past few weeks. It’s difficult to know you’re putting in the work and still watch your pace slow and mileage you’ve previously done without issue become a challenge. This race was over an hour slower than my trail marathon last year.

With that said, I am very aware that completing something like this is a PRIVILEGE! I was able to complete this race because I was lucky. My primary symptom has been morning sickness (which stopped in the second trimester) and I’ve had no major issues related to my training. Outside of luck, here are a few things that I think helped me get through training during pregnancy:

1. ⁠My OB! I checked in throughout the process to make sure my activity continued to be safe. I had a few minor issues in my second trimester and was able to see my OB to confirm they were not serious and running would not cause them to reoccur.
   
2. ⁠I was already in shape when I became pregnant. Prior to my pregnancy, I was running about 30 miles a week with a 10-13 mile long run. The increase required to complete this training did not put me at risk.
   
3. ⁠PT. I began seeing a PT at the end of the first trimester when I started having back pain. My issues were related to relaxin and my PT was able to help with core and hip strengthening to resolve the issue. She has also been able to help with other random aches and pains throughout the process. Definitely recommend, even if you aren’t a runner!!
   
4. ⁠Fueling and hydration. I ran either with a hydration vest or on a route with water fountains for every run over 5 miles. I brought my preferred snack (gummies) for anything over an hour. I increased the frequency of my fueling throughout the training (fueling every 30-40 mins -> fueling every 20-30) and took in more calories than usual. Hydration was something my OB said was a non-negotiable if I wanted to continue running so I took it seriously, even if it meant peeing every 2 miles 😅
   
5. ⁠A fabulous partner. My husband has been endlessly supportive throughout my training. He picks up the slack at home and has supported my training even when it means hours away from home. He knew this was something important to me, especially since I do not plan to complete a race like this again until baby is much older. He woke up at 5AM to drive me 2 1/2 hours to the race so I could rest in the car. He, and my parents, met me nearly every two miles of the race to cheer. He also joined me the last three miles of this race which I ended up mainly walking to provide encouragement. I couldn’t have done this without him.

All that to say, training in pregnancy is HARD. Be patient with yourself and your body. And most of all, listen if your doctor says to back off! Wishing you all the very best on your journey ❤️

I’m 14 weeks and have not worked out at all in the first trimester, besides a few walks here and there. I’ve been struggling with low blood pressure and start to get light headed about midway through walks or if I’m standing for a longer period of time. I used to workout 4x a week before pregnancy and really miss having that routine, but honestly I’m so scared of passing out. I want to be active during my pregnancy but I’m finding it so hard because of how much I’m struggling with the lightheadedness. I know I should compare, but I’m feeling really defeated when I see all these other moms crush their workouts or runs while pregnant, and I’m just struggling to make it through a walk. Is it too late for me to start working out during my second trimester, since I did nothing in the first?

I'm almost 5 months postpartum, been pretty active. I weight train (followed MegSquats Plus 1, before switching back to my regular program at low weights and have been increasing a bit each week) and do pilates 1x/week and regularly get 10-15k steps a day, what with day care drop offs and pick ups for my toddler and dog walks. I've climbed a mountain in Wales with baby2 in the carrier for fucks sake a month ago. All with no issues in my pelvic floor!

So why did my 5 min benchmark run leave me feeling like I'm a month postpartum in terms of pelvic floor pressure?! So frustrating.

I'm glad I started so light/short and will just keep doing my other stuff and hold back on running for another 2 months or so, but it was a bit disappointing. I just want some high heart rate training and it's so hard to get that with no gym (so no incline treadmill) and no running.

I need suggestions- app or YouTuber who I can follow exercises
I used to use Pilates Anytime app but they don’t have a lot of pregnancy friendly workouts

Hey all! I’m 13 weeks and just had an appointment with my OB where she said I shouldn’t do any open leg lower body workouts as I enter second trimester. I’m a labor and delivery nurse and this advice is news to me! Plus I’ve been weight training for the last two years and it seems pretty outdated to me, but I am wondering about modifications you all might recommend? Any apps (preferably free) you’re using?

Feeling a bit sad because I went on a 7km run today with my regular run club (very slow at the back), and although cardio fitness wise I felt fine, my pelvic area felt so heavy it definitely didn’t feel like I should keep doing this, even with a maternity belt on. Guess it’s time to hang up my running trainers in favour of other less intense sports and hope I haven’t caused any damage! 😭

I’ve been really lucky so far during pregnancy and have been able to work out consistently. I’m a little over 9w along, and I took a week off for a trip to Mexico and my workouts this week have been TERRIBLE. I did 10 burpees and was breathing like I had just done an all out sprint. Things that normally feel like a 6 or 7 effort feel like a 9!

Does this get better? Worse? I am doing a Hyrox at week 18 and wondering how much it’s going to feel like dying!

Newly pregnant and I am very good with general training and workouts as a CPT and previous “bodybuilder” so I planning on micro tweaks to my current training. BUT I am honest- I’m lazy as heck with core training (she looks good… but she’s weak😂😂😂 literal bodybuilder lol) - and I have a annual tear and 2 bulging discs in my back I got 3 months ago so I need something really good for core work😅

I’m looking at Hannah Bower or DeliciouslyFitandHealthy if anyone has tried? May also just buy MegSquats app since this community seems to like it too!

Thank you (:

I am 35 weeks today and have been maintaining a pretty intense (adjusting and shifting) but still extensive gym routine. 4-5x a week, 20 min cardio, usually stairs, with lifting after.

When 3rd tri started i was so frustrated with exhaustion at the end of the day. I was using all my energy at morning workout and had nothing in me for the rest of the day. Very upsetting when there is so much to do and so many projects before the baby is here.

3 weeks ago I adjusted to a WAYYY easier routine. Focusing on mobility/stretching, light lifts and a walk. This new workout is challenging to me now with all of the pelvic pressure.

I can not even fathom doing my past workout right now. That change seemed to come on so fast. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It seems to be 60 to 10 mph in a blink of an eye.

Hi everyone,

I am 6w4d this is my first pregnancy and my first and only symptom is feeling out of breath. I go on two 30 mins walk every day and I have to take a few mins to catch my breath. I am scared to jump back into my normal routine.

For background, I normally do HIIT, hot Pilates 3-4x a week. I won’t be returning to hot Pilates as I have read it is not good for the baby.

So, my question is for mamas who experienced this symptom how did you do when you came back to your HIIT or Pilates routine? Were you able to keep up or did you have to opt for lighter workouts?

I am around 8 weeks right now, and have had a ramp up of my nausea in the last few days. I am hoping to run a 10 km race (likely a walk/run situation - not trying to PR or anything) around 16 weeks and was hoping to keep up my fitness during the first trimester.

However - whenever I go for a run (even a 5 km, ~30 min run), I end up starving and nauseous. I try to wait 1-2 hours after eating something to run, otherwise I feel bloated and sluggish. But clearly, waiting that long makes me feel like I'm going to bonk on the run.

How do you time your workouts & meals/snacks to avoid this? I don't usually bring fuel during these short runs because it seems excessive, but should I be having some carbs while I run to try to avoid this? Looking for any advice :)