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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Pregnancy and IM

stepchild

Feb 25, 05 19:18

Post #1 of 18 (269 views)

Pregnancy and IM	Can't Post

I am in my fourth month of pregnancy now - due early August (third baby) and am hoping to do IMAZ and IMFL in 06. I am doing my best to stay in reasonable shape, although I am not really certain what that is.
Anyway, I am looking for some suggestions so that I can minimize loss of fitness during the pregnancy and "hit the ground running" after the baby is born.
I would appreciate input from any who have been there...
How long after your baby was born did you race an IM?
How was your training affected?
Any hints, general advice???

rundhc

Feb 25, 05 20:42

Post #2 of 18 (254 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Having been through a fair amount of this with my wife, the one thing I've learned is that you should be pretty careful about not getting your heart rate too elevated during the pregnancy b/c it cuts off blood flow to the kid. We were warned constantly and told to keep the heart rate below 130 bpm, although i have seen 140 cited too.

I've included a link that outlines the issue. Our doc, who really knows her stuff, was particularly concerned about issue # 2 in the text.

http://pregnancytoday.com/experts/f-heartrate.htm

I know that this doesn't directly answer your question. But, it does bear on the overall issue of what you do during your pregnancy, and, just in case, I wanted to point out some of the implications of trying to maintain a high level of fitness during the next nine months. My wife and I actually lost a full term child -- for a completely separate reason -- and so I'm inclined to say more than less so that no one else has to go through what we did.

Best of luck with everything.

(This post was edited by rundhc on Feb 25, 05 20:47)

AndyPants

Feb 26, 05 5:43

Post #3 of 18 (225 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Third baby? this should be old school by now ... ;-)

The thing I *wish* I had done during pregnancy that I didn't was weights. Light ones, no squats, etc. but at least to do some! I ran until week 20, rode until week 30 and swam until bebe arrived. Also did prenatal yoga which was nice, not sure how useful re: fitness. Post-partum, when I started training again, my biggest limiter was muscular endurance and strength. I was so weak! I started swimming and riding at week 6 post-partum, but running was a lot tougher to start again, I ended up waiting until month 6 post partum, I was doing crit races and OW swim races by that time. Plus I was breastfeeding still, so running was downright painful at times.

Bebe born Jan 31, 2004, doing IMWA this Nov. I think IMAZ might be a bit too ambitious, but IMFL could be doable. Especially if you want to breast feed for 6+ months. Breastfeeding is hard work for your body. To add IM training on top? I dunno... but to sum it up 1) do weights 2) post partum, start with cycling and swimming 3) hold of on IMAZ and do just IMFL instead.

You never know what could happen with this bebe or you, so be mentally prepared to do neither race...

trischnitz

Feb 26, 05 5:48

Post #4 of 18 (223 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That heart rate of 140 or 150 is old school with no scientific basis. Lots of great research being done in this area. I highly recommend that all women athletes and their coaches read the latest in a book called Exercising Through Your Pregnancy by Dr. James Clapp III. His research pretty much shoots holes in all of the Obstetrics guidelines that were created by overly conservative physicians who didn't want to get sued.

Keep training and good luck in your race!

Titan

Feb 26, 05 5:56

Post #5 of 18 (218 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you got pregnant in the first place, you weren't training hard enough! Just a joke!

Like others have said, the health of the baby is paramount. Everything else should take a back seat. All the way back to the furthest back seat on the bus. When they say don't get too hot, don't. When they say don't get your HR up above 130 or 140 or whatever they say...don't. That baby only gets one chance to develop ideally, don't do anything that could possibly jeapardize this baby's one chance. Even if you are overcautious. IM racing is not listed on the first page of a one page list of important things, when a baby is involved.

I'm not a woman (although I have been told I decorate well), but, I've been told by several women that their endurance athletic performance post-partum was much better than they expected....like pregnancy had a 24-hour a day constant light training effect. Gordo-types would love to be able to train 24 hours a day at light intensity!

Best of wishes with your precious developing child.

Talk about IM's next year, or the next.

Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur
(That which is said in Latin sounds profound)

holdencain

Feb 26, 05 6:03

Post #6 of 18 (214 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Stepchild. I'm an ObGyn. If you need another opinion outside of your own MD's just send me a PM and we can "talk off the air"! ;-)
Cheers,
HC
---------------------------------------------------
Holden Cain, ObGyn..."People pulling people out of people"

AndyPants

Feb 26, 05 6:07

Post #7 of 18 (213 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [trischnitz] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Agreed, I often cruised at 145/150+ for extended periods of time while pregnant. Absolute HRs mean nothing, because it's your HR that matters. You have to go by how you feel. But you will slow down, a lot (esp when climbing or running). Take it slow. Your brain may want faster but you'll find that your body will simply not let it happen. Your bod is now in charge, not your mind.

I know a woman who "ran" a marathon at week 30. Cleared by her OB. But for her, a marathon was nothing - this woman was used to knocking off 100k ultras on a weekend.

It's all specific to you.

Tom Demerly

Feb 26, 05 6:22

Post #8 of 18 (207 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

First off, congratulations.

I don't know a darn thing about pregnancy, etc. except that it looks mighty uncomfortable. Maybe some regular walking will help keep your connective tissues in the "weight bearing" mode for running while not getting your heart rate up too high.

-Never underestimate the training value of walking. Good luck!

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/
(NOTE: This poster owns a retail business selling triathlon related products).

baruch spinoza

Feb 26, 05 7:40

Post #9 of 18 (171 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Have you considered registering the unborn baby with the adaption service? This way other less fortunate couples can pay for his college and you will have time to train and subsequnetly race.

________________________________________________
Tom Demerly necessarily exists, Tom�s essence is existence Tom�s essence is perfect, and therefore Tom�s perfection implies that Tom must exist. Since Tom is infinite substance, no attribute which expresses the essence of substance can be denied of Tom . Every being has its being in Tom. Nothing can come into being or exist without Tom.

Ziva

Feb 26, 05 8:27

Post #10 of 18 (161 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [baruch spinoza] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Now that's just rude and ridiculous. Should a woman cease all her usual hobbies and activities just because she is pregnant?

baruch spinoza

Feb 26, 05 8:40

Post #11 of 18 (152 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [Ziva] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ziva,

Firstly you did not get the idea - I was implying that she will be able to pursue her training, and secondly, I was of course joking. It is called being cynical.

You should get out more often, or have some beer. As a jewish man I know that the word Ziva is a hebrew name and it comes from the word Ziv. Ziv means very bright.

Baruch

________________________________________________
Tom Demerly necessarily exists, Tom�s essence is existence Tom�s essence is perfect, and therefore Tom�s perfection implies that Tom must exist. Since Tom is infinite substance, no attribute which expresses the essence of substance can be denied of Tom . Every being has its being in Tom. Nothing can come into being or exist without Tom.

Ziva

Feb 26, 05 9:47

Post #12 of 18 (130 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [baruch spinoza] [In reply to]	Can't Post

cynicism is no way to go through life, Baruch. In any case, your little facetious comment contains a very frequent attitude in response to anyone seeking advice on how to train while dealing with pregnancy/newborn/kids. So sorry to have misunderstood your obvious innocent funny.

Thanks for the lesson on my name. You are most enlightening. Unfortunately I have to correct you on the etiology of my name. As a Slovene woman I know that the word Ziva is a slavic name and it comes from the word for life. Ziva means she who is alive/lively. I was aware of the jewish version, but my parents were not of jewish ancestry when they named me.

Ziva

rundhc

Feb 26, 05 9:48

Post #13 of 18 (130 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [trischnitz] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Trischnitz, I wonder what your scientific basis is for calling the 140 bpm limit old school. We have one of the most renowned high risk doctors in NYC saying that it is very meaningful. And she harped on it through the whole pregnancy. So I am wondering what your personal credentials are, and what basis you have for telling someone to overlook this advice and potentially wind up in a bad situation. Please advise.

(This post was edited by rundhc on Feb 26, 05 9:52)

pedergraham

Feb 26, 05 10:26

Post #14 of 18 (110 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Stepchild:

My baby is now 10 months old and I'm doing IMLP this summer. I did not exercise much at all during pregnancy, esp. last trimester, excpet lots of slow walking and swimming. I just did not have the energy and during the icy winter was afraid to fall while running. I started training just before 6 weeks post partum and did an Olympic distance when my little girl was 4 months old, but I was slow, slow, slow. I was thinking aobut doing a half last October but after my Oly distance performance realized that if I wanted to keep breastfeeding, I'd better give myself a break. So, I pretty much stopped training for two months and started doing long walks with baby and dog, hiking etc. I started back up in December, weaned my littel girl a couple of weeks ago and am training approx. 15 hours/week now. My weight came off gradually, but was all gone by XMas (daughter born in May) without any dieting. I have to say that I would not be able to train this way if it wasn't for my super-supportive husband giving up his lunch hour for my runs, his morning swims so that I can swim, etc. I think Andypants was really right qwhen she cautioned about breastfeeding and exercise. I spent a lot of time pumping milk so that I could work out--and maybe next time will start supplementing with formula earlier than I did this time around (7 months). Alhtough there were times at the beginning when I had to pump just to get that d*** sports bra on! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy...

-DMG

trischnitz

Feb 26, 05 10:52

Post #15 of 18 (100 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [rundhc] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, I'm no OB doctor, but I am an exercise physiologist coach with a pregnant wife who is a competitive age-group triathlete. I'm also just quoting the book and the research, so don't shoot the messenger. 140 was never chosen for any scientific reason other than to be cautious, which isn't a bad thing, just not the only thing. Additionally, 140 in the first trimester is easy to hit with a brisk walk, but during the last trimester may be hard to get to even with fast running, so that doesn't make it safe or unsafe one way or the other. Using an arbitrary number for heart rate based exercise prescription during pregnancy makes no sense at all. It doesn't work for healthy non-pregnant individuals, so why would you use it for a pregnant woman whose circulatory system is undergoing rapid and radical changes throughout the pregnancy? It's sad that some of the best doctors in the country are sticking by the scientifically unfounded guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists because they haven't asked the question "why?"

rundhc

Feb 26, 05 11:22

Post #16 of 18 (88 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [trischnitz] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My bottom line is this. The 140 may be right or wrong, I don't know. But, having had to deal with the loss of a full term pregnancy, we've erred on the side of caution at every step of the way during our second pregnancy (which should hopefully end well this week), and we've made sure that if anything were to go wrong, it wouldn't be because of any questionable decisions we've made. But, in the end, everyone has to make their own decisions.

trischnitz

Feb 26, 05 11:34

Post #17 of 18 (84 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [rundhc] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sorry for your loss, and congrats on this one! I hope everything goes well!

I am in agreement with you that based on your personal situation, being cautious is the way to go. I just don't agree that picking a heart rate out of the air guarantees that anything is safe or that it might be harmful. It should be based on other things like perceived exertion, baby and mother's responses to exercise, health history and any current health issues, etc. Seems like common sense, but sometimes giving parents a guideline makes them think that any exercise under 140 heart rate is ok. Many times this recommendation causes mothers to be over-cautious and lose out on the benefits to both the baby and mother of exercise during pregnancy , and other times it can lead to ignoring of other symtptoms because they believe that anything under 140 is ok. I'm not saying that in your case or any other case, that being on the safe side is bad, I just hate to see recommendations given with no scientific basis or individualization.

I think we've gotten away from Stepchild's original question though...

holdencain

Feb 26, 05 12:02

Post #18 of 18 (79 views)

Re: Pregnancy and IM [stepchild] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think a lot of positive comments/suggestions have come forth.

Remember, if you ask 6 doctors a question you'll get a more than a dozen answers...all claiming they are correct.
My general rule(speaking as an ObGyn) is to not have my athletic patients undertake any major *new* athletic goals while pregnant. If they are already at a certain fitness level I am usually pretty comfortable with them continuing through the first/second trimesters. Frankly, the pregnancy itself will usually slow them down on its own..they usually wake up one morning around 30wks EGA and go "darn, i'm pregnant!" ;-)
As far as HR guidelines, we really don't concern ourselves as much w/ that as we used to. Again, the physiology of pregnancy seems to dictate new limits for these women. There are text chapters written about these changes,,enjoy!
Of course, past/current pregnancy history must be taken into account. Each women is different and each pregnancy has to be evaluated for risk/benefits/options accordingly.
Cheers,
HC
---------------------------------------------------
Holden Cain, ObGyn..."People pulling people out of people"