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Millyz 
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 Topic: Regular exercise could mean small baby?
Posted: 14 August 2009 at 8:42am |
Hi ladies
I met with my midwife yesterday and mentioned that I'm still exercising 6 times a week (power walking) as I wanted to make sure that was still ok to do. She said that's ok except people who do a lot of exercise run the risk of having small babies and wouldn't I rather have a "nice, healthy, fat baby?" 
Has anyone else heard this before or have any of you who are mummys already and were quite active during pregnancy, experienced this outcome?
I'm keen to stay as active and fit as possible as I'm hoping it will help with labour and post pregnancy but obviously I don't want to put bubs at risk.
Thanks heaps.
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ElfsMum
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 8:48am |
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:( what a weird thing to say I haven't heard that and the people I know who kept fit didn't have babies that were smaller:( maybe she meant excessive exercise?(which I know you aren't doing) ? I know it helps with labour etc but yeah not heard that one before.
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cuppatea
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:17am |
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No I haven't heard that before either, excessive exercise and not eating properly can be bad, but mostly to your health as baby tends to take all it needs and leave you with nothing. Excessive exercise can be an issue because of the relaxin hormone and potential problems with ligaments over stretching etc, but if you normally power walking then I don't see as carryon would do any harm. Just don't get breathless or push your heart rate too high.
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lemongirl
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:22am |
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That seems really odd.
I actually had to talk over my exercise programme with my doctor as my trainer required a nedical certificate. I'm doing the 1/4 marathon in November if my (by then) 5 month preggy body is up to it. She was really supportive of exercise (so long as I don't push myself too hard) and said it would have lots of benefits for me which in turn would have benefits for the baby.
Having said that, I don't know your medical history but I do think you need a second opinion on what your midwife said.
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MamaT
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:29am |
I'd never heard that either. My doc encouraged me to continue with as much excervice as I could manage which would help later in pregnancy and with giving birth
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LouD
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:35am |
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I have heard that the less you do through pregnancy the more the baby is supposed to weigh..........IE: if you continue working right up you tend to have a smaller baby as opposed to lying on couch most of pregnancy.........
But in saying thats what i had heard a long time ago, i thought that cos i stopped working at 28weeks with my second and was too tired to do anything but lie on couch i was expecting a monster, but only had a 7lb6oz baby which i dont consider huge, considering my first was 8lb5oz (different dad though)
Im more active this time, as active as my body and time will allow and where i cant power walk anymore cos my back just gives me absolute death for it, I do try and keep up swimming...........so wil be interesting to see the comparison between my 7lb6 on the couch baby to this one............but i put down my having such an easy breezy pregnancy this time down to being fit and keeping up a bit of fitness.......i had a lousy time with my second from being so exhausted, and i was very unfit when i got preg..........
Lots of comparisons, but only time will tell for me i suppose on this theory..........but yes I have heard that particular comment before
The only theory i know to be true about small babies is people who smoked......i have noticed that most people who smoke have 6lb babies.....
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Katep
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:45am |
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I walked almost every day- not power walking but a stroll between 30-60 minutes, including some hills.
I worked till 33 weeks ad a teacher of 5-6year olds- so I believe I was reasoably active and Leah was 9pounds 2ounces.
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lemongirl
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 9:50am |
Actually according to the British Medical Journal moderate exercise actually increases birth weight!
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Millyz
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 10:09am |
Crikey 9 pounds 2 oz Katep. Well I'm b@ggered if I know then!!??
My midwife has been a midwife for over 20 years so would kind of think she knows about these things but perhaps for previous pregnancies she's been involved with it's just been a coincidence??
I think I'll keep it up at this point as I definitely think I feel better for it. Plus my food intake has increased so perhaps that counteracts the exercise as far as making sure bubs is getting enough of everything he/she needs?
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peachy
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 10:49am |
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I walked alot during pregnancy, including doing a 10km fun run/walk and I had a 9lb baby at 38 weeks!!
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CuriousG
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 11:17am |
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My MIL had a friend who had a baby a couple of years ago. During her pregnancy she still jogged and did loads of excercise every day. She was very lean and didn't actually eat that much either. Her baby was born and he was also very lean, not much fat on him. But whether that comes down to her excercise, diet or simply genetics, who knows.
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Katep
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 11:45am |
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It's probably similar to the heart rate/gender thing. Not really scientific...but sometimes works.
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kebakat
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 12:11pm |
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I think its probably more related to how women eat while exercising etc. If you are burning off all the calories etc that you are eating by exercising and bubs gets whats left then you can kinda see how it might work having a smaller bub.
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Kazzle
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 12:43pm |
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i didnt do any excercise at all during my 2 pregnancies and they were 5lbs 4 oz and 5lbs 8oz
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Jam08
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 12:46pm |
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Sounds like a strange thing for her to say.
I was power walking about an hour a day right through my pregnancy and at times 2 hours plus. Also worked til nearly 38 weeks and bubs was nearly 9 lbs. Helped so much with being in shape and feeling fit in the weeks after birth. In my opinion def keep it up if you can!
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Bizzy
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Posted: 14 August 2009 at 4:36pm |
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what a weird thing to say... i did aquarobics twice a week thru my whole last pregnancy and baby weighed 8pd 13... when i had 3 mths bed rest with my first pregnancy baby wieghed 8pd 12...
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Kim
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Posted: 15 August 2009 at 10:35am |
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With my first I went to the gym 5 times a week from 6 months pregnant as we moved overseas and I wasn't working and was bored. I went on the morning that I went into labour and Zac was 6 pds 2. With my second I did no exercise and Samara was 8 pds 14.
Zac was 2 weeks early and Samara was 10 days early.
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Zac Mark - 30.11.05
Samara Ailsa - 13.08.07
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FreeSpirit
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Posted: 15 August 2009 at 10:43am |
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I worked full time (sometimes double shifts) right up until 36 weeks, and exercised for a minimum of 40 minutes a day 6 times a week until 32 weeks, my daughter was born two weks overdue at 6lb 9oz. I don't think it had anything to do with the exercise, but genetics that she was small. I was only 4lb something at birth (5 weeks prem)
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mummyofprinces
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Posted: 15 August 2009 at 3:04pm |
I didnt read the other replies but i say PFFFTT! Jake was 6lb14oz and other than my weekly yoga class and getting off the bus to stops before work in the morning (a 10 min walk) I did no exercise! Personally I think its genetics, my mum had smalls babes, DH mum had small babes, we had a small babe.. hope the next one is small too
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monikah
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Posted: 15 August 2009 at 9:03pm |
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im a tertiary qualified personal trainer and ive never come across that in my life. lol. my baby was 8lb 4oz and i went to the gym right through my pg and was still walking up the hill to get to uni until i was 6 days overdue.
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Regular exercise could mean small baby?
