Pregnancy & Baby Index: Pregnancy - Morning Sickness: Pregnancy, exercise and morning sickness

Pregnancy, exercise and morning sickness
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Is it okay to keep exercising when you feel nauseated during the first trimester? Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, answers.

Your question
I'm having a hard first trimester, with lots of nausea and fatigue. I want to continue to excercise, but often nausea and/or fatigue keep me from continuing. Is it okay to keep going when I feel these things, or should I stop? - Kristin, California

The expert answers
Kristin,

Been there, done that! I feel for you -- it's awful feeling so queasy and tired, especially when you're a high-energy person. My experience is that exercise usually made me feel better. Some days were better than others, but for the most part I forgot about my nausea while I was working out. My advice would be to push yourself a little -- if you don't feel better within the first 15-20 minutes of your workout, stop.

This isn't a time to force yourself to exercise or to work through discomfort or pain. Also, try to eat a little something an hour before you work out -- maybe a piece of fruit or some graham crackers -- to keep up your blood sugar. I also switched from drinking plain water to drinking watered-down Powerade while I was pregnant for that same reason. I found that if I kept my blood sugar stabilized, I tended to feel less nauseous.

Good luck, and, remember, that this too shall pass!

Lisa :)PregnancyAndBaby.com



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About the author: Lisa Stone, ACE-certified pre- & post-natal fitness specialist, is the creator of Fit For 2, a pre- & post-natal fitness program. The mother of three, she is also the producer of the Fit For 2 Step Aerobic Workout For Pregnancy video. For information on Fit For 2 classes or the video, call 770.509.8078, or check out her site at FitFor2.com. Copyright © Lisa Stone.

Notice: This forum is for educational purposes only, and addresses only non-urgent questions of a general nature. If you are concerned about your health or your baby's health, please consult your family's health care provider immediately. This information is not a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or treatment. Due to the volume of questions received, not all questions can be answered.

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