Exercise

[mountainpuddles]

Hi Gals! On 9/16 it will be no excercise/sex for 6 weeks. For those exercise enthusiasts what do you do to keep from going insane?? Thanks! Becky

[woodcliff]

Well, the one good thing is that I'm pretty darn tired!
That has helped, in its own perverse little way.

I do take short walks during the day...

but I find if I take long ones, I'm wiped out...go figure, I used to work out at lEAST one hour, if not 2 hours, each day. Twice a week with a trainer as well, PLUS spinning classes, walking, elliptical, rowing, you name it. I was a GYM RAT.

I'm a bit concerned that my arms'll get fat...but I keep telling myself to just hold off, I can pick it up again in 8 months...

I say walking will help you (short answer)...
I also wonder if doing exercises for the arms with 2-3 pd weights would be OK? just SOMETHING to keep toned!

[Cocoa]

OMG WC you and I have soooo much in common. I abssolutely hate fat arms on me and will freak if I let that happen. I do have 5lb weights I was planning to continue using for my arms after I get the ok form doc. I power walked 4 miles 4-5 days a week and I also teach karate (I don't have to work out to do that though) so being out of shape will be hard but I know I will be a maniac to get back into shape (oooh... I hope )

Gotta go to bed...

Cocoa

[woodcliff]

Cocoa! You teach Karate? That has always been one of those "hey cool" dreams of mine...but I have a hard time commiting to things, and from what I understand, Karate requires total commitment...Good for You!

Great! you have the 5 pound weights...good idea...powerwalking is awesome...have you done anything since the IVF? I fear, if it's twins (you too!) that I'll gain way too much weight and it'll be unhealthy (ie: blood pressure dangers) if I can't work out, how will I work off all of this eating for 2? Or, er, 3?

Good night and good luck, Cocoa, sweet dreams! And THANK YOU for your support...

[Tams]

Just don't do it!!! I used to run 5 miles a day 10 at the weekends when I had more time, I cut this down prior to starting my ivf cycle and stopped altogether on the advice of my doctor and also Zita West (I recommend her book fertility and conception whenever you're going through a cycle). Anyway, due to previous m/c and early bleed I was banned from exercise for the first 12 wks, I then took up some pre-natal pilates and (very gentle) gym with a pregnancy trainer and lo and behold I had a bleed at 16 wks, utterly terrifying. Luckily this stopped and I was on another exercise bann unitil after my 21 wk scan. I now just swim and walk - swimming is good if you're worried about your arms, but to be honest I think your body has its own areas of putting on wieght during pregnancy and quite frankly you're better just to roll with it! My bottom and thighs have joined the party and I'm just going to have to worry about it once the baby is born, this is far to precious to risk for the sake of my vanity. I don't know whether you've read 'The Best Friends Guide to Pregnancy' by Vicky Iovine - she has a great take on exercise in pregnancy (don't!) and says out of 4 pregnancies she exercised and watched what she ate in 2 and not the other 2 and saw a difference of about 2lbs weight gain. She reckons each body has a pregnancy weight and you can't do much to affect it.

Good luck and try to enjoy the pregnancy and bump - oh and ignore the book's recommended weight gain, following the ivf drugs I found I had a very early surge!

XXXX Tams

[woodcliff]

Tams, thank you...great information, as my personal trainer kept selling me on the fact that she trains pregnant women. I just can't see working out with her while preggers, because of all of the weight training and lifting!!!

Could you say what you mean by "surge" ... do you mean you showed earlier? Or gained earlier? Thank you!

[Cocoa]

Hey Tams...

Thank you VERY much for your post. It was informative and confirmed what I feel is right. I will walk 1 mile a day with my dog when the doc confirms its all sticky... I need that energy exit and I am sure a walk is good. I am also thinking about joining the local Y for their pool.

So... I have a different question... anyone out there have conical cervical biopsy and concerned with incompetent cervix? I had a biopsy (turned out to be COMPLETELY unnecessary... THAT'S another story in itself) and a triangle piece of my cervix is missing. I had NO cervical incompetence problems with my son 14 years ago (none at all) but that was before the biposy and if I AM carrying twins I am just concerned because the literature says thats a concern factor but actual diagnosis is 2nd trimester miscarriage (and I am NOT for waiting for THAT!!!) Any comments... (maybe I should post this separately - whaddya think?)

WC!
Yes, I teach karate and yes, karate has been a huge commitment. I love it and it has been a great workout and body changer (for the much better). I love teaching it because its awesome to inspire leadership and to watch my students grow and progress (kids and adults). IMHO I believe that if you like to workout and feel good because of it that karate is an EASY commitment... But it will have to wait until AFTER babies right?

I hope you are feeling better today after your blood scare... take it easy PLEASE!!! You are carrying precious cargo!!!

Love ya,

Cocoa

[woodcliff]

Hi Cocoa! How did Day 2 go at work? I hope you are not too wiped out!
I hear you re: joining a pool...and walking 1 mile...I am walking each day, not very far now (I was at first but not now)...just for around 20 minutes or so a couple of times a day...it helps keep the 'edge' off.

Maybe you should post the cervix Q on the Twins board...good luck, you don't need more worries ... this is tough enough...

I'm pretty tired today, slept a LOT this afternoon, very surprised...but so far no or little blood so I'm OK...thank you for asking. It was a realy Wake Up Call...probably good for me, as I tend to overdue things and I probably would've overdone something because I've felt so well so far.

Any M/Sickness for you? Or just nauseous? None for me...but hey, that could change...Friday being the start of week 6, 4 week gestational and all, when it's supposed to really kick in!

BEST TO YOU

[Cocoa]

Hi WC...

I am a LOT less tired today than I was yesterday. I went to bed at 8 last night and slept until almost 6:30! I am still up and it is now 8:20. I only feel nauseous when I am doing too much like when I got back in the car to go to the studio to teach I felt a surge... they come and go but no sheer exhaustion and extreme boob soreness. THAT'S simply why I worry!!! Symptoms!!!! My sister's symptoms all diappeared at week 6 and you know what that was (can't even bring myself to write it here) so it freaks me out...

I hope my bw tomorrow shows 20,000!!! If it's twins so much the BETTER!!!

TTYS,

Cocoa

[woodcliff]

Hi Cocoa! I'm glad you got a lot of sleep the other night...
Listen, my BBs have not hurt since 2 days BEFORE my first BETA...I think they just 'adjusted' to the drugs...so, I don't relate sore boobs as a sign of my pregnancy.

And my Betas have been very high...so I know I'm still pregnant, but I am now starting odd spotting every now and then. Not blood...just spotting. Reality check for me (not to take this for granted)...but yes, I will worry until the 8th month at least! (Then for the rest of my life.)

As to exercise, I walk every day, around 2 times for 20 minutes or so. I HAVE TO or I'd go bonkers...

Best of luck to us all...

[Tams]

Cocoa,
I also had some treatment on my cervix, I can't even remember what the treatment was - cone biopsy or laser, but I asked them to measure my cervix at the last scan and they said it was fine. To put your mind at rest it may make sense to keep an eye on your cervix, but I'm sure it will be fine.
Walking your dog sounds like prefect exercise in pregnancy, it keeps you mobile without putting any pressure on your joints.
WC, my early surge was weight gain! I think probably due to cutting down on the running, but I really haven't been as bothered as I thought I would - in fact I'm strange proud of my bump!

... I've just re-read your posts, I hadn't realised how early on you both were - Good Luck!!! It sounds as though you both have good looking betas and things are sounding good! It does get a little easier and you will start to believe it eventually! I found the scans really helped me, I'd be happy for about 2 days after each one then start worrying again, but I also had a very understanding doctor who would listen with the doppler whenever I had a panic. I think you can usually hear the heartbeat from around 10 wks, but not always so don't worry.

Good luck, when are your first scans?

LOL
Tams xxxxx
ps I had early spotting and it didn't mean anything, also although I had sore breasts early on (and obsesssed whenever they felt less tender!) a good friend of mine didn't at all, and she has had two successful ivf pregnancies.
xx

[noodle]

my 2 cents........

I worked out during all IUI's and both IVF cycles, stopped after ET and started again 4 weeks after ET. After MC I went nuts trying to get back into shape and became pretty workout crazy/health nut for the next four months and then found out preg naturally...crazy. But DR said to continue exercise (1/2-1 hour 6 days weekly). I found that I couldn't workout to full capacity until 2nd trimester, so I'm a lot more careful now then in 1st trimester when I couldn't even hit 1/2 of what I could before. I had slight bleeding at 8 weeks due to "special time" and DR recommended stopping WO for a week, I took off 3 weeks and boy did I pop quickly. I did eat a lot less when I wasn't working out but my thighs and back quickly softened. I really don't care about the weight gain your body changes during preg no matter what, especially with what we've all been through.

[mountainpuddles]

Hi Gals, Thanks so much for posting! In our IVF class the nurse stated I can lift the 5 lb weights. So I will purchase a few and keep those arms toned. Try, but not over do it.

Becky