Running While Pregnant

You Don't Have to Give it Up

By Teri Brown

Pages: 1 2 3

Though many athletes are loath to give up their sport while pregnant, perhaps none are more reluctant than runners. Those who are called by the open road tend to be amazingly dedicated, and giving up their favorite exercise is like asking them to cut off their noses or one of their legs! But do they really have to give it up? Many devotees don't think so.

Jennifer Frankowiak, a mother of one from Tampa, Fla., ran through a good deal of her pregnancy and feels she was healthier for it. "I enjoyed it, and it made me feel better about eating so much," she says. "I knew birth and recovery would be easier. My weight gain was right on target – not too much and not too little."

Frankowiak obtained her doctor's permission before continuing her running program. Her doctor, who also happened to be a runner, quickly gave her blessing. "She said as long as I'm changing the intensity of my workouts I should continue," says Frankowiak. "The only caution was to not overheat because the fetus will overheat as well."

Jane Hahn, senior editor for Runner's World Magazine, believes many experienced runners can continue to run at least part-way through their pregnancies provided their doctors are aware of their exercise. "Every woman and every pregnancy is different," says Hahn. "If you were running regularly before you were pregnant, chances are your doctor will give you his or her blessing. But even then, you have to listen to your body much more closely when you are pregnant. There's no "gutting out" pain when you're pregnant. When something doesn't feel right, you need to stop."

Though many doctors don't mind their patients continuing to run while pregnant, there are some medical situations that may cause a woman's health practitioner to say she shouldn't run. These may include pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and others, particularly a history of pre-term labor or miscarriage. If a woman is carrying twins, her doctor may also ask her to abstain from running.

Hahn says there are factors you should take into consideration before running while pregnant. "If you enjoyed racing and improving your times before you were pregnant, take a total break from that mindset during the whole pregnancy," says Hahn. "This is not a time to 'train' for anything. Any running you do at this time should strictly be for the health of you and your baby."

Karen Bridson is the author of the books Run For It: A Woman's Guide to Running for Emotional and Physical Health (Burford Books, 2002) and Nine Months Strong: Shaping Up for Labor and Delivery and the Toughest Physical Day of Your Life