We’re here in Penticton for IMC this weekend, and one of our friends, who has trained diligently for 2-3 years, and specifically for IMC for the past 8-9 months (read: she’s very fit), just discovered this week that she’s pregnant (best guess, about a month). This was to be her first IM, and up to now she hasn’t altered her training plan, so the question is, should she do the race? This is also her first pregnancy, so she has no reference on either point. We know of one woman who completed an IM, and then afterward discovered she had probably been about a month pregnant at the time. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
eeeks. Contact a Dr. I would think the stress on the body wouldn’t be good at all.
…what is more important. An Ironman finish or the health of your future child (and your own). There will be other opportunities to do an Ironman, but the precious baggage in the womb cannot be replaced.
She’s spoken with three docs, one (OBGYN) says just go and see how you feel. Second (also OBGYN, who thinks triathletes are crazy to begin with) says the opposite. Third, (anesthesiologist (sp?)), took some middle ground. Hence the seeking of additional opinions/insights.
I would think the stress would be too much…Your boby is extremely taxed during an IM and in fact goes into catabolism (breaking down), I do not see how in anyway this could benefit here or the baby…I can see the potential for a lot of harm, not to mention the increased risk of a miscarriage.
“Monitor your heart rate and breathing. As a general rule, your heart rate should not exceed 140 beats/minute”
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/pregnancy/safeexercise.html
Absolutely postively, 100%, undeniably agree with paul
Just don’t do it.
I can understand her dilemma, especially from an athletes point iof view, having trained so hard.But one thing pregnancy and parenthood teach you, is that you no longer just think about yourself.
By the way I am not a doctor and my advice is not linked to any medical knowledge.
I would think it would be way too stressful. Anything could happen during an Ironman and that is a pretty big chance to take. I would bet the Dr. who said to go ahead has never done an IM and doesn’t realize what it can do to your body. I hate to tell her what to do but if it was me or my wife, I wouldn’t want her to do it.
anybody know a triathlete AND ob/gyn? an ob/gyn that doesn’t understand the physical demands of an IM might not be a good resource…
yes! I’m going to send her an e!
I know of two women who were serious high mileage cyclists (not into tris at the time) who had miscarriages on their first pregnancy. Both dropped dropped their mileages considerably, but were still doing serious mileage, probably 100-150/week, max distances of 60-75 miles (instead of 250±/week, max distances of 100-200+ they were doing previously).
Both women subsequently had successful pregnancies, but they only did casual, easy paced riding during the successful pregnancy. The training both were doing during their unsuccessful pregnancies was likely less stressful than what might be typically required for an IM, not to mention the stress of the race itself, which is well beyond anything these two women attempted during their pregnancies.
Anecdotal evidence to be sure, but given the small data set of female athletes I know that have become pregnant, cause for concern. I know an Ironman while pregnant has been done successfully, but personally I would strongly discourage it.
She should definitely check with her doctor, but she should be fine. I raced a marathon with a woman that was 7.5 months pregnant…she wore a cool belt contraption that helped support the baby. For the most part, you don’t have to change much if you are pregnant, you must pay attention VERY closely to hydration and core temperature. Consulting her doctor would be the best bet 
With all due respect, the stresses put on from a marathon and an IM are two completeyl different things.
I agree with Markus. Your organs, digestive system and intercellular sodium balance are never really under distress in a marathon. Not so for an Ironman. We are not designed to be moving for 10 hours. 2 hours is really it. In a marathon, you might be in the danger zone for all of 30 min, vs perhaps 8 hours during an Ironman. Ironamn is playing with fire even when you are 100% healthy. Trust me, I have done 12 of them. They are damn hard, even with all this experience.
Your perspective on life totally changes once you become a parent. Yes, I am obsessed with Ironman/tri/endurance sport, but I know where to draw the line
While consulting doctors is a must, they’re going to give conflicting opinions - with out a doubt. Some say yes, some say no.
In my opinion, why would anybody want to do anything that could possibly risk a pregnancy even if what they’re doing may not have any effect on the baby?
Example: Some doctors say that a very limited amount of alcohol is fine for a pregnant woman to consume. Others say that the celebratory glass of champagne after learning of a pregnancy can lead to birth defects. Who’s right? Why risk it?
My wife and I had a hard time conceiving our second child. We did everything possible to not interrupt the pregnancy, including not doing things that doctors said were “okay.”
There will always be another IM…
What it comes down to is whether or not she’s willing to risk a miscarriage or worse for the sake of an Ironman. If she’s okay with the risk, whether it’s 0.1% or 99.0% then there you go. It would be a horrible thing to have a miscarriage and then have to wonder if sitting out the Ironman might have prevented it. There will be other IMCs. There may or may not be other babies.
My wife and I have just had a baby, 3.5 months ago. She has done triathlons, and we asked similar questions regarding training and intensity. Our impressions of the available data have indicated that there is no conclusive data. Why? Because, it seems, that no one is willing to risk it. We felt that subjective opinions were all that was offered.
The womans body is amazing. It knows how to ‘make’ a baby. The baby’s first trimester of development is the most crucial. It is the time when most babies are lost. We came to the opinion that is why morning sickness goes away at the end of the first trimester.
Your friend will have to ask herself: What is the Risk/Benifit? In our situtation, we really did not even have to ask the question. An Ironman after 1 month? Is she really willing to risk it? She should probably ask a woman who has had a miscarriage if it is worth the risk.
I hope this has not come across as being to harsh.
I should also say I feel for her. That would be one hell of a decision. You train for something for so long and think about it every day and then something blessed comes along which really makes you question. Good to see she is trying to get some good info. I wish her well whatever she decides.
Yeah sorry, didn’t mean to sound so snooty.
Ask her how she feels about having a miscarriage.
I would hate to have this thought:
“My little girl would be five years old today if only I hadn’t done the Ironman, gotten severely dehydrated, ended up in medical and…”.