pregnancy and max hr

[doc]

Oh my gosh of course. Staying cool is critical. Studies have clearly shown that elevated temperatures (1st trimester I think) significantly increase the risk of birth defects. By which they mean temps over 101. Avoiding sauna, steam room, or whirlpool use is recommended.

[Jennifer]

vigg-

Congratulations!

I just had a baby, and while my MW was very laid back and realistic about the my almost everything (sushi, traveling, etc) she also felt pretty strongly about me not overdoing the excercise. She gave me a max HR of 135. I gave up riding around 5 months because I was more concerned about falling, and it wasn't really very comfortable. I did remain really active throughout. yard work, gardening, etc.

You may find in a month or two that the HR restriction doesn't really bother you that much. I thought it was rediculous at first, but once I hit about three months, it was no concern. 130-145 was as high as I could do comfortably anyway.

[vigg]

Thanks for the input everyone. I found an OB who is also a triathlete who, I assume, will be able to speak more specifically about issues such as frequency/duration/intensity of workouts and rides, instead of just handing me the number 140 and sending me on my way. Another thing my current OB told me was absolutely NO running (why? I don't know..). I don't want to be too hopeful that this new OB will tell me everything I want to hear, but I think I can count on advice that will be more specific to my current level of fitness.
Also found a good book that I have already ordered: Exercising Through Your Pregnancy by James Clapp. It's highly recomeneded by women athletes who are or who have been pregnant, so it looks like I've managed to find some guidance.
Thanks, Vigg

[winky-girl]

Vigg: Please give us an update when you come back from the new ob. I have just started riding and am trying to get pregnant. So advice for the future will be helpful.

[ChocolatePizzaR]

I teach indoor cycling, and taught class 2 days before I delivered my second child. Riding while pregnant is certainly do-able, and I'm convinced that being fit made delivery easier.

Re: max HR... As you said, the 140 figure is out of date. Staying aerobic (and cool) is key. The catch is that everyone crosses their anaerobic/lactate threshold at a different point. For some, it may be at 85% of MHR, for others at 92% and for still others, it might be at 78%. I believe the best way to know is to pay attention to your breathing. As long as you can comfortably breathe thru your nose, you should be alright. (BUT I'm not a doctor, so please please please confirm this with him/her!)

The hardest part for me early on was keeping my intensity moderate. I didn't *feel* different, so it took conscious effort to not push myself. I had to remember that if there was anything wrong with my child when he was born, I'd always have regrets. (I know it's kind of a morbid way to think about it, but it worked for me.)

I think the "no running" thing has to do with the ligaments, but I'm not sure.

Best of luck!

[Jennifer]

you can run while pregnant.

although later it turns into more of a waddle-jog

[vigg]

The new ob said the same thing - 140 bpm max. I told her how easily my hr shoots up to 160 or so just going up a slight hill, but then plummets back downward once the hill levels off, and she said that was probably alright, but why not just lower the gear? Yes, these MD's know a heck of a lot more about human physiology than I do, but this 140 max sounds like a concrete, simplistic effort on their part to protect their collective butt.
Anyone who is as confused as I am about all this (you know, there are a number of sources claiming the 140 max is ultra-conservative bunk, but just check with the doc to be sure it's OK to exceed it, then the doc says "oh no, stay below 140...") should pick up a book by James Clapp "Exercising Through Your Pregnancÿ." I admit he seems a little overzealous about his agenda, but he does cite ample studies that refute many of the current guidelines, including the degree of danger of overheating the baby, or depriving it of oxygen. And because the body undergoes so may changes throughout the pregnancy and even during the course of each excercise session, the 140 max is almost irrelevant. Does this mean I'm going to go all out? No, but now I at least have a physiological explanation for why my heart rate shoots up so readily on hills, with no real change in my perceived exertion. I won't get into it here, but I will certainly stop worrying that I'm hurting the baby if I'm above 140 for 30 second intervals here and there.
As for conception, much of the word out there about excessive exercise impeding your ability to conceive is speculative. Exercise, for the most part, improves fertility, provided one's overall lifestyle is healthy and periods are regular. I'm an impatient person, and had assumed that maybe I didn't get pregnant right away because I was exercising too much, but in retrospect, it took us only two cycles of concious effort (if you know what I mean) to get pregnant. It just felt like forever at the time. Good luck to you!
Vigg

[RoadRaven]

although later it turns into more of a waddle-jog

LOL... a joggle or a waggle... a wag or a wog... or a jaddle or a woggle...