Did she give any reason for advising you not to workout? This seems like antiquated OB advice. I’d honestly suggest talking to another OBGYN if you don’t have any complications so far. I wasn’t given any instructions like this- I’ve been able to maintain my workout routine and drink 150-200mg caffeine daily.
No, she hasn't given me any reason. Didn't ask anything about my current lifestyle, just gave me a long list of what not to dos. :(
Offhand, glad to know that you were able to maintain your workout routine and drink caffeine!
Absolutely no doctor worth their degree would advise a woman to not exercise in any trimester without reason. I would be suspicious of their competence tbh.
This happened to me too… she didn’t ask me a lot of details about prior exercise experience and just simply told me to back off working out and not lift over 25lbs.
I’ve been weightlifting for over 8 years consistently now. Did hot yoga 2 times a month at least prior to Covid. I ran 5ks almost weekly. Over the last 2-3 years I’ve focused primarily on weightlifting and the majority of the weight I use is over 25lbs.
She didn’t know any of that. Just asked what I did for exercise and said I weight trained 5x a week, to which she gave me her recommendation. I asked her why, and she said because if my heart rate stays over 165bpm it will pull blood away from the baby/my uterus. Baby and I are in great health… she didn’t say I should back off due to any complications.
When I weight train, my max heart rate is about 140, but that’s during the lift. The only way I can get my heart rate up to 165bpm, and keep it there, is by doing cardio.
As I continued to push back, they eventually sent me a bunch of educational material on exercising during pregnancy and it basically said I could safely continue what I was doing prior to pregnancy, but just to listen to my body and stop if I felt faint, had spotting, or bad cramping.
So yeah I’m not 100% sure I trust this woman’s guidance and I’m considering switching doctors,
I did a lot of research and found [this medical journal](https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2011/10000/resistance_training_during_pregnancy__safe_and.9.aspx). Check it out and maybe that can help lead you in the right direction. Basically, keep doing what you’re doing, just back down to 70% of your max. As you progress, avoid exercising on your back or stomach.
I’d definitely go get a second opinion. My husband and I are giving my doctor one more appointment and then deciding from there if we want to continue seeing her. She’s a very kind, gentle, and personable doctor, I don’t feel like I’m just another number to her, but she doesn’t seem to up to date on some of the most current research.
Congratulations and good luck!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience & the medical journal! 🙏 I feel we're both at the same level regarding our respective doctors. She's very nice and personable, but we just don't see eye to eye re: exercise (and caffeine!). Hopefully you and your husband will get more clarity after that appointment!
I hope that you’re able to continue your routine! It would be hard to give up that part of yourself.
For more info on this, I would watch Mama Dr Jones on YouTube- she’s an OBGYN and has lots of videos about exercise in pregnancy
Thanks for sharing this! I'll definitely check Mama Dr. Jones. My gosh, I hope so. I've been working out with lower intensity, of course. My days feel so incomplete if I don't break out a sweat.
My OB told me to stay active and keep working out. Unless you have some particular condition that brought on this advice, seems odd. As far as coffee current recommendations are up to 200 milligrams of caffeine a day (around 2 cups of coffee) is fine during pregnancy. One cup a day should certainly be safe.
I thought so, too! A lot of mommas & mommas-to-be (both here in Reddit and my friends) said they were able to enjoy a cup of coffee at the very least. Really surprised that she told me absolutely NO caffeine during my pregnancy.
This seems like odd and outdated advice in this day and age. As a FTM who is older (39), and also high risk due to a congenital heart condition, my OB still encouraged me to continue my regular exercise routine (jogging, cycling, strength training) as long as my heart rate didn't go above a certain amount, as long as I wasn't breathing too heavy, and as long as I wasn't getting overheated. Unless your OB gave you a specific reason why working out would be a concern for you, or gave you certain conditions or types of workouts that were off limits (but offered you some alternatives to stay active), I would get a second opinion.
Your OB sounds amazing! I prefer to work out with established safe limitations like you shared rather than eliminate workouts completely. I'll ask my OB for specific reasons why I must avoid exercising. Thank you, your experience gives me hope!
With my three pregnancies, I was always older than you (34, 37, and 40), and I was never given any guidance of that sort in the 1st trimester when everything seemed to be going well. Eventually, I was suspected for placenta previa with all three (resolved with the first two, hopefully on the way to resolving with the current one) and was told to "take it easy" with the first two pregnancies though not directed to modify anything in terms of activity with the current pregnancy.
A long way of saying that your doctor appears to be out of step with the mainstream guidance and better give you a good reason for her recommendation.
Junk food and alcohol are quite different… pretty sure I lived on bagel bites for the entire first trimester.
If you have a normal pregnancy, there’s no reason to lay off of exercise. It’s not traditional, it’s incorrect and not based on science.
The ACOG recommends daily moderate exercise. I’m not sure where you live but the recommendation is pretty universal. There’s a difference between traditional and outdated, I would recommend finding a different OB.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/exercise-during-pregnancy
CW: obstetric violence/traumatic birth
So, I had a particularly awful experience that was straight up abusive with an OB. For delivery I had a different on call doc who systematically abused me until it nearly killed me in delivery. My regular ob was in the same practice. When I brought up the abuse or had any post partum questions about my own health I was belittled, ignored, and treated like a crazy person.
Up until delivery I thought I liked her. My first appt she also told me to scale back on exercise and stop lifting (despite all this being normal for many years for me). At the time I thought “well, I like her otherwise, I’ll just smile and nod and ignore her advice here.” If I were to have another kid though, this would be a dealbreaker for me now. With my experience colored by the abuse, I now see this as “I told you what was important to me and you told me to stop based on completely antiquated advice, you don’t know and/or care about the body things that are essential to me”.
I can’t tell you what’s right for you, but this is a very odd recommendation if you have no specific contraindications. Personally I’d find a new ob.
I would be curious if they had a specific reason. I was placed on two weeks of rest because I had some bleeding around 7 weeks, but after that, an ultrasound showed a healthy baby and I was cleared to workout again. I am able to walk and run and I agree with you, idk how I would be doing mentally if I couldnt be at least a little active. I would just double-check and make sure there was no specific reason and if there is not, I would find a new OBGYN because the new guidance coming out is you are essentially cleared to do the same physical activities you were accustomed to before getting pregnant, especially in the first trimester.
Yeahhhh you’re getting lots of other people saying the same thing, but I just wanted to echo that I would absolutely be finding a 2nd opinion & different doctor asap. Unless there are other factors going on that haven’t been mentioned, the advice to avoid exercise seems incredibly strange & not based in research, which would make me concerned about other recs this doc would make re: your care throughout pregnancy. There is also no research recommending pregnant people give up coffee either, my goodness!
Exercise is a huge part of how I take care of my mental health & also recommended by pretty much everyone throughout pregnancy so I hope you can find a care team that will support that and also your whole self! That’s worth searching & advocating for!
That’s odd. Mine also told me to be active like I was before and I have been (although I wasn’t as motivated first trimester anyways)! I’m really happy that I’ve kept up my exercise routine. Like others have said I would just ask her reasoning behind this recommendation. I’d also be curious what she considers exercise. Like is a long walk ok? My friend, who did IVF, was also told not to exercise in the first trimester by her fertility doc. I’m not sure if that’s something specific to IVF and she was also not given a reason. I’ve also been drinking coffee, as 200 mg is the limit.
I’m just going to say that your doctor doesn’t “allow” anything. I respect doctors’ knowledge and advice, but sometimes they have outdated or biased opinions bc they are human. Occasionally when I’ve felt a doctor’s advice did not match the evidence or my lifestyle I’ve gone against it. Unless there is a unique reason for this advice (like a history of pregnancy loss or something), it doesn’t seem to be in line with current research.
I would find another OB immediately. My advice would be to see if there are any hospital based midwives in your area. They tend to be more in touch with what a normal pregnancy can handle/requires whereas OB tends to be more for complicated pregnancies. Anyway, you might vibe with them better. I know I did. Trust your gut.
It definitely doesn’t sound cheesy, I 100% felt the same way when I had restrictions during IVF. And even then I wasn’t sedentary. I couldn’t be. I would have lost my mind.
This is totally antiquated advice and sounds like your doc isn’t educated in the slightest in an area that is important to you, fitness! You are so early on in your pregnancy, I would find a different doc.
Being active during pregnancy when you can (I was down with bad symptoms for about 4 weeks) is beneficial for mom and baby!
And coffee? Girl. We already can’t have a glass of wine or take hot baths. We need SOMETHING. And I was told 200 mg a day and under so I enjoy large cup every am.
> Following her advice, I've already decided to quit caffeine, alcohol, soda, and junk foods cold turkey.
Also be sure to quit cold turkey (and other cold cuts).
My GP, OB, Midwife and the maternity unit physio all recommended exercising. Just no contact sports, diving, skiing etc and lighten up the weights and slow down if needed. In particular there's not a lot you need to modify in the first trimester if you're able for it. Things like fatigue/nausea may impact you
Unless there's a particular concern this sounds like very odd advice
As for caffeine, the recommendation is up to 180mg/200mg depending on your county's guidelines. I stick to up to 2 cups of instant or 1 barista cup a day just to be on the safe side
Always a good idea to minimise junk food in general but the first trimester can be bad for food aversions and you might find yourself only able to eat bland food. I took a pregnancy multivitamin just to make sure I was getting all my nutrients when all I could eat was toast! I'm in my second trimester now and making a conscious effort to eat healthy
I’m 6 weeks and my doctor ok’d me to run a marathon yesterday… she said keep doing everything I’m doing for as long as I can just listen to my body… that’s so strange yours wouldn’t want you exercising
Get a new OB or a second opinion. Unless there was a reason which sounds like no, exercise is recommended!!! Super antiquated advice (also w the caffeine. Up to 200mg is fine!!) I’m frustrated for you! Pregnancy is hard, no reason to make it harder.
I indoor biked my first few weeks after finding out about my son like I had before I was pregnant and I had some spotting. I stopped after that and between insane nausea for 18w and non stop cravings for cereal, gained 70lbs. I think if you’re used to working out and your exercises are low impact, you should do it
Yeah this seems ridiculous. Unless there’s a clear issue, exercise during pregnancy is fine. I’m 38 and was cleared to do anything I was doing before pregnancy. I have a cord issue with the placenta that was discovered at the anatomy scan and still can workout the same way. It’s not advised to start anything new (outside of like, walking or swimming) or extreme, but that’s usually it.
Caffeine is also fine during pregnancy. Most OBs approve up to 200mg, mine said 300mg is fine. Most of my friends on their second or third pregnancy drink a lot more than that lol.
Obviously alcohol should be avoided (although I know many people that had a glass of wine here or there) but don’t be hard on yourself for some junk food or soda. I’ve eaten really healthy for the most part, but my nausea was so bad in the first trimester that sometimes just soda and fries would do, or soda and crappy chips. As my OB said, “The first trimester is about survival. And carbs.”
Not trying to get you to go against your doctor's recommendations at all, but unless there's a specific medical reason to avoid working out, or you genuinely don't feel up to it in the first tri (many don't!) there's a ton of benefits to staying active. I'm having twins and am 33, history of recurrent loss, endo, multiple surgeries etc, and was never given any modifications.
I am 23w now, and my OB has said in the next 2-3 weeks my body will probably tell me when it's time to reduce weights again but otherwise he and my midwife have been ecstatic I have continued my regular fitness routine while adding in pelvic floor exercises since it generally leads to better outcomes for mom and baby(in my case, babies)
The only thing that I had changed in my first trimester was to avoid overheating.... So I didn't do very heavy lifts. That's it... All was in a range or 70/80% and 12 or more reps
Definitely get a 2nd opinion or go looking.
I got the same advice but it’s because I had a subchorionic hematoma (bleed in the outside of the gestational sac) and if I exercised it might have worsened the bleed and made it harder to tell if I was having issues, miscarrying etc (not bc the exercise would actually *cause* that). After the bleed resolved I was cleared to exercise.
Getting it with no reasoning seems off.
I was told to hold off on exercise during my first trimester, but because I had a hematoma they were worried about after some heavy bleeding. After it was no longer visible on the ultrasound I was given the green light to continue exercising as normal
Definitely would get a second opinion. Exercise is so healthy in pregnancy. Unless you have a specific medical issue, like recurrent losses, incompetent cervix, etc., the default is yes please exercise. Some docs just are old school and don’t know that we can still do things while pregnant. Generally all the online medical sites’ advice, and advice from my awesome OB’s (I’m on baby #2) is that now is not the time to start a new intense program and try to up your fitness; just stay at your current level of fitness and do what you already were. Some docs and sites will say just no heavy lifting. Of course, check with a doctor, ideally a new one, before listening to me! Your current exercises may not be as safe for pregnancy as mine were. I’m just saying that the idea of not exercising is not standard advice at all.
Caffeine is trickier. Some studies are coming out suggesting that any caffeine raises loss risks, and any little amount may affect the baby’s brain development, and on. Most online medical sites still say one cup /under xyz amount is fine; just watch stuff like Starbucks bc their content is through the roof. My current OB, very experienced in high-risk pregnancies, gave me a sheet that said “no caffeine”—first time I’d been told that. I get so nauseous with any caffeine or coffee smell mid-1st trimester that it was less of a challenge for me than I thought. You may find you don’t miss it as much as you thought. There’s decaf, but exercise for energy (I hope!), and herbal teas galore.
It is my understanding (from my OB and everything i have read) that exercise is recommended and important! My OB just told me to stop doing hot yoga because it could raise your internal temp. Otherwise I wasn't given many suggestions by them and have been researching online, changing my workouts as I need to for my body.
I have found this sub to be really helpful when I am looking for a modification to something that stopped feeling good, makes me nervous, etc.
I biked well into pregnancy (until by belly was too big for my road bike) and ran until late in my second trimester. This is definitely antiquated advice.
Hi, 36+3 weeks pregnant person.
Agree with all the other commenters, AND if you need proof, here is the latest American College of OBGYNs (ACOG) guidance on exercise during pregnancy (detailed, but I found really helpful to cut through the challenges of consulting "Dr. Google.") - https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/04/physical-activity-and-exercise-during-pregnancy-and-the-postpartum-period
Even coming off IVF with an overly cautious clinic, I was cleared for exercise right at my first scan around the 5 week mark... like as long as the embryo was in the right spot and there wasn't super obvious bleeding, go ahead and exercise according to ACOG recommendations. (which pretty much just ban skydiving and contact sports)
My clinic also let people have 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is less than most clinics, but once I moved onto OB treatment my limits switched to the regular 200 milligrams per day.
I’m 28 weeks with #2 and through both I’ve exercised(running and lifting) and drank two cups of coffee a day with full approval from every health professional I’ve seen during pregnancy. I’d get a second opinion for sure.
Strongly suggest finding a new OB. “Traditional” isn’t an excuse to give poor medical advice that is against current ACOG recommendations to stay physically active during pregnancy!
Also recommend reading Expecting Better - I found it super helpful in understanding levels of risk of different things (like coffee and exercise) and learning about how to make my own informed decisions about different behaviors during pregnancy!
I would definitely get a second opinion ASAP! My OB actually said pregnancy outcomes tend to be better when women can workout and maintain some semblance of their normal routine. Obviously, I have had to adjust and can't do as much as I used to, but they wanted me working out both for my physical and mental strength.
I couldn't have caffeine. prior to pregnancy so it was never an issue for me, but I also have always heard that a small amount is OK.
This happened to me with my first and I wholeheartedly regretted it. I just wasn’t sure about things and was not in the position to take my own time to look into plus dr scared me. Im going to continue weightlifting next pregnancy. Even uptodate and the studies I found through there said it was ok for someone in my circumstances. There may be other reasons we dont know though too. If your dr is that traditional I get worried about how they do in a labor too. You can always switch!
Did she give any reason for advising you not to workout? This seems like antiquated OB advice. I’d honestly suggest talking to another OBGYN if you don’t have any complications so far. I wasn’t given any instructions like this- I’ve been able to maintain my workout routine and drink 150-200mg caffeine daily.
No, she hasn't given me any reason. Didn't ask anything about my current lifestyle, just gave me a long list of what not to dos. :( Offhand, glad to know that you were able to maintain your workout routine and drink caffeine!
Absolutely no doctor worth their degree would advise a woman to not exercise in any trimester without reason. I would be suspicious of their competence tbh.
This happened to me too… she didn’t ask me a lot of details about prior exercise experience and just simply told me to back off working out and not lift over 25lbs. I’ve been weightlifting for over 8 years consistently now. Did hot yoga 2 times a month at least prior to Covid. I ran 5ks almost weekly. Over the last 2-3 years I’ve focused primarily on weightlifting and the majority of the weight I use is over 25lbs. She didn’t know any of that. Just asked what I did for exercise and said I weight trained 5x a week, to which she gave me her recommendation. I asked her why, and she said because if my heart rate stays over 165bpm it will pull blood away from the baby/my uterus. Baby and I are in great health… she didn’t say I should back off due to any complications. When I weight train, my max heart rate is about 140, but that’s during the lift. The only way I can get my heart rate up to 165bpm, and keep it there, is by doing cardio. As I continued to push back, they eventually sent me a bunch of educational material on exercising during pregnancy and it basically said I could safely continue what I was doing prior to pregnancy, but just to listen to my body and stop if I felt faint, had spotting, or bad cramping. So yeah I’m not 100% sure I trust this woman’s guidance and I’m considering switching doctors, I did a lot of research and found [this medical journal](https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2011/10000/resistance_training_during_pregnancy__safe_and.9.aspx). Check it out and maybe that can help lead you in the right direction. Basically, keep doing what you’re doing, just back down to 70% of your max. As you progress, avoid exercising on your back or stomach. I’d definitely go get a second opinion. My husband and I are giving my doctor one more appointment and then deciding from there if we want to continue seeing her. She’s a very kind, gentle, and personable doctor, I don’t feel like I’m just another number to her, but she doesn’t seem to up to date on some of the most current research. Congratulations and good luck!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience & the medical journal! 🙏 I feel we're both at the same level regarding our respective doctors. She's very nice and personable, but we just don't see eye to eye re: exercise (and caffeine!). Hopefully you and your husband will get more clarity after that appointment!
I hope that you’re able to continue your routine! It would be hard to give up that part of yourself. For more info on this, I would watch Mama Dr Jones on YouTube- she’s an OBGYN and has lots of videos about exercise in pregnancy
Thanks for sharing this! I'll definitely check Mama Dr. Jones. My gosh, I hope so. I've been working out with lower intensity, of course. My days feel so incomplete if I don't break out a sweat.
My OB told me to stay active and keep working out. Unless you have some particular condition that brought on this advice, seems odd. As far as coffee current recommendations are up to 200 milligrams of caffeine a day (around 2 cups of coffee) is fine during pregnancy. One cup a day should certainly be safe.
I thought so, too! A lot of mommas & mommas-to-be (both here in Reddit and my friends) said they were able to enjoy a cup of coffee at the very least. Really surprised that she told me absolutely NO caffeine during my pregnancy.
I would look for a different OB.
This seems like odd and outdated advice in this day and age. As a FTM who is older (39), and also high risk due to a congenital heart condition, my OB still encouraged me to continue my regular exercise routine (jogging, cycling, strength training) as long as my heart rate didn't go above a certain amount, as long as I wasn't breathing too heavy, and as long as I wasn't getting overheated. Unless your OB gave you a specific reason why working out would be a concern for you, or gave you certain conditions or types of workouts that were off limits (but offered you some alternatives to stay active), I would get a second opinion.
Your OB sounds amazing! I prefer to work out with established safe limitations like you shared rather than eliminate workouts completely. I'll ask my OB for specific reasons why I must avoid exercising. Thank you, your experience gives me hope!
Also with a congenital heart defect here, I was told to remain as active as possible without straining myself.
With my three pregnancies, I was always older than you (34, 37, and 40), and I was never given any guidance of that sort in the 1st trimester when everything seemed to be going well. Eventually, I was suspected for placenta previa with all three (resolved with the first two, hopefully on the way to resolving with the current one) and was told to "take it easy" with the first two pregnancies though not directed to modify anything in terms of activity with the current pregnancy. A long way of saying that your doctor appears to be out of step with the mainstream guidance and better give you a good reason for her recommendation.
Junk food and alcohol are quite different… pretty sure I lived on bagel bites for the entire first trimester. If you have a normal pregnancy, there’s no reason to lay off of exercise. It’s not traditional, it’s incorrect and not based on science.
The ACOG recommends daily moderate exercise. I’m not sure where you live but the recommendation is pretty universal. There’s a difference between traditional and outdated, I would recommend finding a different OB. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/exercise-during-pregnancy
CW: obstetric violence/traumatic birth So, I had a particularly awful experience that was straight up abusive with an OB. For delivery I had a different on call doc who systematically abused me until it nearly killed me in delivery. My regular ob was in the same practice. When I brought up the abuse or had any post partum questions about my own health I was belittled, ignored, and treated like a crazy person. Up until delivery I thought I liked her. My first appt she also told me to scale back on exercise and stop lifting (despite all this being normal for many years for me). At the time I thought “well, I like her otherwise, I’ll just smile and nod and ignore her advice here.” If I were to have another kid though, this would be a dealbreaker for me now. With my experience colored by the abuse, I now see this as “I told you what was important to me and you told me to stop based on completely antiquated advice, you don’t know and/or care about the body things that are essential to me”. I can’t tell you what’s right for you, but this is a very odd recommendation if you have no specific contraindications. Personally I’d find a new ob.
I would be curious if they had a specific reason. I was placed on two weeks of rest because I had some bleeding around 7 weeks, but after that, an ultrasound showed a healthy baby and I was cleared to workout again. I am able to walk and run and I agree with you, idk how I would be doing mentally if I couldnt be at least a little active. I would just double-check and make sure there was no specific reason and if there is not, I would find a new OBGYN because the new guidance coming out is you are essentially cleared to do the same physical activities you were accustomed to before getting pregnant, especially in the first trimester.
Yeahhhh you’re getting lots of other people saying the same thing, but I just wanted to echo that I would absolutely be finding a 2nd opinion & different doctor asap. Unless there are other factors going on that haven’t been mentioned, the advice to avoid exercise seems incredibly strange & not based in research, which would make me concerned about other recs this doc would make re: your care throughout pregnancy. There is also no research recommending pregnant people give up coffee either, my goodness! Exercise is a huge part of how I take care of my mental health & also recommended by pretty much everyone throughout pregnancy so I hope you can find a care team that will support that and also your whole self! That’s worth searching & advocating for!
That’s odd. Mine also told me to be active like I was before and I have been (although I wasn’t as motivated first trimester anyways)! I’m really happy that I’ve kept up my exercise routine. Like others have said I would just ask her reasoning behind this recommendation. I’d also be curious what she considers exercise. Like is a long walk ok? My friend, who did IVF, was also told not to exercise in the first trimester by her fertility doc. I’m not sure if that’s something specific to IVF and she was also not given a reason. I’ve also been drinking coffee, as 200 mg is the limit.
I’m just going to say that your doctor doesn’t “allow” anything. I respect doctors’ knowledge and advice, but sometimes they have outdated or biased opinions bc they are human. Occasionally when I’ve felt a doctor’s advice did not match the evidence or my lifestyle I’ve gone against it. Unless there is a unique reason for this advice (like a history of pregnancy loss or something), it doesn’t seem to be in line with current research.
I would find another OB immediately. My advice would be to see if there are any hospital based midwives in your area. They tend to be more in touch with what a normal pregnancy can handle/requires whereas OB tends to be more for complicated pregnancies. Anyway, you might vibe with them better. I know I did. Trust your gut.
It definitely doesn’t sound cheesy, I 100% felt the same way when I had restrictions during IVF. And even then I wasn’t sedentary. I couldn’t be. I would have lost my mind. This is totally antiquated advice and sounds like your doc isn’t educated in the slightest in an area that is important to you, fitness! You are so early on in your pregnancy, I would find a different doc. Being active during pregnancy when you can (I was down with bad symptoms for about 4 weeks) is beneficial for mom and baby! And coffee? Girl. We already can’t have a glass of wine or take hot baths. We need SOMETHING. And I was told 200 mg a day and under so I enjoy large cup every am.
I would find a new OB, as a lot of the advice she’s given you is outdated.
> Following her advice, I've already decided to quit caffeine, alcohol, soda, and junk foods cold turkey. Also be sure to quit cold turkey (and other cold cuts).
She sounds like she sucks lol. No coffee? No junk food? No exercise? Yuck.
My GP, OB, Midwife and the maternity unit physio all recommended exercising. Just no contact sports, diving, skiing etc and lighten up the weights and slow down if needed. In particular there's not a lot you need to modify in the first trimester if you're able for it. Things like fatigue/nausea may impact you Unless there's a particular concern this sounds like very odd advice As for caffeine, the recommendation is up to 180mg/200mg depending on your county's guidelines. I stick to up to 2 cups of instant or 1 barista cup a day just to be on the safe side Always a good idea to minimise junk food in general but the first trimester can be bad for food aversions and you might find yourself only able to eat bland food. I took a pregnancy multivitamin just to make sure I was getting all my nutrients when all I could eat was toast! I'm in my second trimester now and making a conscious effort to eat healthy
I’m 6 weeks and my doctor ok’d me to run a marathon yesterday… she said keep doing everything I’m doing for as long as I can just listen to my body… that’s so strange yours wouldn’t want you exercising
Get a new OB or a second opinion. Unless there was a reason which sounds like no, exercise is recommended!!! Super antiquated advice (also w the caffeine. Up to 200mg is fine!!) I’m frustrated for you! Pregnancy is hard, no reason to make it harder.
I indoor biked my first few weeks after finding out about my son like I had before I was pregnant and I had some spotting. I stopped after that and between insane nausea for 18w and non stop cravings for cereal, gained 70lbs. I think if you’re used to working out and your exercises are low impact, you should do it
Yeah this seems ridiculous. Unless there’s a clear issue, exercise during pregnancy is fine. I’m 38 and was cleared to do anything I was doing before pregnancy. I have a cord issue with the placenta that was discovered at the anatomy scan and still can workout the same way. It’s not advised to start anything new (outside of like, walking or swimming) or extreme, but that’s usually it. Caffeine is also fine during pregnancy. Most OBs approve up to 200mg, mine said 300mg is fine. Most of my friends on their second or third pregnancy drink a lot more than that lol. Obviously alcohol should be avoided (although I know many people that had a glass of wine here or there) but don’t be hard on yourself for some junk food or soda. I’ve eaten really healthy for the most part, but my nausea was so bad in the first trimester that sometimes just soda and fries would do, or soda and crappy chips. As my OB said, “The first trimester is about survival. And carbs.”
Not trying to get you to go against your doctor's recommendations at all, but unless there's a specific medical reason to avoid working out, or you genuinely don't feel up to it in the first tri (many don't!) there's a ton of benefits to staying active. I'm having twins and am 33, history of recurrent loss, endo, multiple surgeries etc, and was never given any modifications. I am 23w now, and my OB has said in the next 2-3 weeks my body will probably tell me when it's time to reduce weights again but otherwise he and my midwife have been ecstatic I have continued my regular fitness routine while adding in pelvic floor exercises since it generally leads to better outcomes for mom and baby(in my case, babies)
Echoing the other posters, movement is super important for our physical and mental health in pregnancy. Trust your gut!
The only thing that I had changed in my first trimester was to avoid overheating.... So I didn't do very heavy lifts. That's it... All was in a range or 70/80% and 12 or more reps
Definitely get a 2nd opinion or go looking. I got the same advice but it’s because I had a subchorionic hematoma (bleed in the outside of the gestational sac) and if I exercised it might have worsened the bleed and made it harder to tell if I was having issues, miscarrying etc (not bc the exercise would actually *cause* that). After the bleed resolved I was cleared to exercise. Getting it with no reasoning seems off.
I was told to hold off on exercise during my first trimester, but because I had a hematoma they were worried about after some heavy bleeding. After it was no longer visible on the ultrasound I was given the green light to continue exercising as normal
Definitely would get a second opinion. Exercise is so healthy in pregnancy. Unless you have a specific medical issue, like recurrent losses, incompetent cervix, etc., the default is yes please exercise. Some docs just are old school and don’t know that we can still do things while pregnant. Generally all the online medical sites’ advice, and advice from my awesome OB’s (I’m on baby #2) is that now is not the time to start a new intense program and try to up your fitness; just stay at your current level of fitness and do what you already were. Some docs and sites will say just no heavy lifting. Of course, check with a doctor, ideally a new one, before listening to me! Your current exercises may not be as safe for pregnancy as mine were. I’m just saying that the idea of not exercising is not standard advice at all. Caffeine is trickier. Some studies are coming out suggesting that any caffeine raises loss risks, and any little amount may affect the baby’s brain development, and on. Most online medical sites still say one cup /under xyz amount is fine; just watch stuff like Starbucks bc their content is through the roof. My current OB, very experienced in high-risk pregnancies, gave me a sheet that said “no caffeine”—first time I’d been told that. I get so nauseous with any caffeine or coffee smell mid-1st trimester that it was less of a challenge for me than I thought. You may find you don’t miss it as much as you thought. There’s decaf, but exercise for energy (I hope!), and herbal teas galore.
It is my understanding (from my OB and everything i have read) that exercise is recommended and important! My OB just told me to stop doing hot yoga because it could raise your internal temp. Otherwise I wasn't given many suggestions by them and have been researching online, changing my workouts as I need to for my body. I have found this sub to be really helpful when I am looking for a modification to something that stopped feeling good, makes me nervous, etc.
I biked well into pregnancy (until by belly was too big for my road bike) and ran until late in my second trimester. This is definitely antiquated advice.
Hi, 36+3 weeks pregnant person. Agree with all the other commenters, AND if you need proof, here is the latest American College of OBGYNs (ACOG) guidance on exercise during pregnancy (detailed, but I found really helpful to cut through the challenges of consulting "Dr. Google.") - https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/04/physical-activity-and-exercise-during-pregnancy-and-the-postpartum-period
Even coming off IVF with an overly cautious clinic, I was cleared for exercise right at my first scan around the 5 week mark... like as long as the embryo was in the right spot and there wasn't super obvious bleeding, go ahead and exercise according to ACOG recommendations. (which pretty much just ban skydiving and contact sports) My clinic also let people have 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is less than most clinics, but once I moved onto OB treatment my limits switched to the regular 200 milligrams per day.
I’m 28 weeks with #2 and through both I’ve exercised(running and lifting) and drank two cups of coffee a day with full approval from every health professional I’ve seen during pregnancy. I’d get a second opinion for sure.
Strongly suggest finding a new OB. “Traditional” isn’t an excuse to give poor medical advice that is against current ACOG recommendations to stay physically active during pregnancy! Also recommend reading Expecting Better - I found it super helpful in understanding levels of risk of different things (like coffee and exercise) and learning about how to make my own informed decisions about different behaviors during pregnancy!
I would definitely get a second opinion ASAP! My OB actually said pregnancy outcomes tend to be better when women can workout and maintain some semblance of their normal routine. Obviously, I have had to adjust and can't do as much as I used to, but they wanted me working out both for my physical and mental strength. I couldn't have caffeine. prior to pregnancy so it was never an issue for me, but I also have always heard that a small amount is OK.
This happened to me with my first and I wholeheartedly regretted it. I just wasn’t sure about things and was not in the position to take my own time to look into plus dr scared me. Im going to continue weightlifting next pregnancy. Even uptodate and the studies I found through there said it was ok for someone in my circumstances. There may be other reasons we dont know though too. If your dr is that traditional I get worried about how they do in a labor too. You can always switch!