I am new to this site. My husband and I have been dealing with infertility for over a year now. Each month is a big let down. After I ovulate I get so excited and then I get my periods. I feel like I will never be pregnant. I am a teacher and am around kids all day. It's hard not to be able to come home to a family. We have gone through all of the preliminary testing but the doctors have found nothing. I didn't ovulate for about 7-8 months but they think I am now on the right track with that. I asked the doctor if exercise can cause problems -- she assured me no but I was wondering how others felt. I work out 5-6 days a week but I have cut down my running to only 2-4 miles a day since we starting ttc. Thanks for listening. Hoping for some insight!! :'( :'(
Hello rflaker, Good to read your email, I know how you feel. It seems all around you everyone is pregnant. I work fulltime too and have a job on my feet, nursing. I think having balance is important in life. I try to have relaxing days off and spare time. Best not to get to stressed at work or at play. This site is really good and for support. I do hope you will be blessed with a baby soon, baby dust to you... Allegonda
Exercise can be a factory to a degree. Western medicine says it is ok to keep it up and be as fit as you want. Eastern medicine has a concept about engery (chi they call it and I may spell it wrong). This concept believes that your energy devoted to sports is not being devoted to supporting a pregnancy. Logical in my opinion. Now to my observations.....
My first IVF cycle last July, I kept up my swimming (1 hour x 3 times a week-Masters level) and running (3 miles x3 times a week-9min miler and 5Kcompetitor).I am not a thin woman, rather did this steady regime of exercise to be as healthly and strong as possible at my weight of 130 pounds at 5'3". I was ok with all this exercise during the first IVF cycle except a little uncomfortable at the end of the stimulation.
Then I had 5 months (see Ovulex VI posting) of roadbloacks getting my hormonal levels to an acceptable level to even start IVF (I kept exercising). I also switched practices near NYC. The new physician listened to me as a completer person and I made sure to bring up my sports intensitiy. As a result of this dialogue, I decided, I had nothing to loose by giving up running, primarily due to its IMPACTNESS. I kept swimming very regularily (non-impactful but still great cardio and toning).
So I stopped running (as tough as it was for me psychologically) in December and January. I swam right up to the day before retrivial (albeit a tad slower). Now I am stuck on dry land (DOCTOR'S ORDERS) as I am pregnant and waiting for the fetal heartbeat sono in 2 weeks time. I am 42.9 and this is my only chance for a baby, so 2 months not swimming is a small cost. I won't run until after the birth+6weeks (keeping the positive outlook), although many sites, doctors, etc say that you can run/jog for a time during pregnacy....but I worry about the impact/jarring. There are all sorts of cautions on heart-rate monitoring while exercising when pregnant.
The only negative of not running was a 10 pound weight gain (but hey...it was the holidays too!) The IVF stimulatants added another 5 pounds. Who knows how many pounds to come??? But again, I only have one chance at this baby.
So in sum, if I contrast my two IVF cycles, I would say that exercise was a variable-but each woman is a unique individual with lots of variables to consider. I approached my infertility as a big science project, did tons of research, listened to my body, was open to a variety of ideas, etc, etc.
Hope this little info is helpful for reflection. ALL THE BEST!
I think there are a lot of benefits with exercising. I was a regular exerciser while ttc-ing... but I believe like everyone.. once you start fertility treatments and the pills and needles and emotional roller coaster.. it is inevitable you slip a bit and .. I too gained more weight than I would have prefered.. it seems to be a fairly normal occurance though!
Anyway... Once I did get pregnant.. I was told... just walk and maybe some light swimming. I had some spotting/cramping scares in my 1st trimeseter.. so I cut everything out except the walking.. (and I mean a good daily two hour hike with my dogs... so it was still a good work out).. and I think the walking has helped immensely... albeit I am a bit slower these days!
So I think you really have to listen to your body. If you exercised at an intense level before ttc-ing.. your body can probably tolerate it a bit more.. but yes you have to be concsious of the impact and calories burned.. you need to keep your body strong and fit to carry a baby... and I believe pretty well anything in moderation is fine...
37 yrs. old, DH is 39 -- TTC for a year and a half.. One blocked tube. Completed two IUI's (both on 1050 iu's of Gonal-F). BFP Sept. 28. Annabel born on June 7th - 1 day after my official due date!!
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