training while pregnant

[teej]

This is from a guy ladies. I tried to get into the ladies locker room, but I couldn't!! :)

I am courious. How many of you have trained while you were pregnant? What was your experience? How were you treated? How did your training changed? Would you recommend other woman train while pregnant?

Here is our experience. We miscarried our first child. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life as when my wife went through this.

When we decided to try again, my wife wanted to be in shape. [i have been training most of my life with my wife following me around while dating and in marriage. she never wanted to join.] So before getting pregnant again, she started taking Kenpo Karate lessons with me.

So the day came that we found that we were expecting our daughter. Classes did not change much for my wife. She did what she felt comfortable doing. Our instructor made sure everyone knew of our baby. Everyone avoided contact to her belly. When everyone did partner drills, when we rotated and they worked with my wife, they slowed down, then picked up again, when they rotated to their next partner. So our daughter was kind of like the dojo baby.lol

In the later part of our pregnancy, my wife's legs swelled a lot. She worked all day on her feet. She would come home at night and you couldn't tell she had ankles. She would lay on the couch and prop her legs up for 30 minutes, then change and drive off to class. My wife tested for her purple belt, 3 weeks before our daughter was born. Today at 11 yrs. old, our daughter is preparing to test for Brown Belt in American Kenpo and we are celebrating our 16 anniversary June 4th.

So preparing for our anniversary and remembering the photo of our instructor holding our daughter on the beach when she was about 4 weeks old, I was wondering who else may of had similar experiences that they might want to share.

Thanks ladies,
Your in Kenpo,
Teej :-partyon:

[Phoenix44]

Probably 10% of pregnancies don't make it to term, for whatever reason. Most probably end before you even know you're pregnant.

What happens when you miscarry? You blame yourself, and you're always looking for what you did wrong: that time you slipped on the ice...that Tylenol you you were in.

Or maybe you blame yourself for practicing kenpo pregnant. It's just one more thing. And how does your sensei feel? And your dojo mates?

Look, most OBs would probably encourage an already active woman to continue being active while pregnant. I know a woman who taught cardio-kickboxing through her entire 4th pregnancy, no prob. And you also had a great experience.

But in my opinion, it's a dilemma.

[Phoenix44]

That was "that Tylenol you took" (sorry for the glitch)

[wadowoman]

I excercised throughout all of my three pregnancies and had three healthy children (not martil arts, which I did not take up until after they were born).

I have researched the subjet of training whilst pregnant for one of my own students due to lack of available advice on this subject.

If anybody would like some information please feel free to email me.
Sharon

[KenpoTess]

One of my college students last semester was pregnant. She asked her physician if it was 'safe' to train and with a clean bill of health he gave his approval. Of course there were no frontal torso shots with tecs, and she did her sparring isometrically, wearing a long chest protector. As far as any warm-ups, she did what she felt she could and never over did anything.
Common sense is the major factor. If you have a bad back, knees etc. You do what you can. Same thing in pregnancy. It's a normal healthy female state, Baby is well protected during the first 3 months, and by the 4th month or so when it has grown up and out of the pelvic boney structure, the Mother takes over with instinctive protection.

:asian:
~Tess

[Shodan]

During my first pregnancy, I trained in the dojo until the 20 week mark. My OB/Gyn said it was okay to train until then, but not to spar or take falls after then. I ended up leaving the studio for other reasons, but could have trained for the whole pregnancy if careful I think. Instead, after leaving the studio, I swam in the pool at our gym and continued to walk on the treadmill there too......I believe it helped greatly. For my next pregnancy, I hope to train (Kenpo) for the entire pregnancy as well as continue my workouts at the gym.

[Shodan]

PS) Due to expanding belly, you may have to start wrapping your belt around you only once instead of twice!! I almost did!! :boing2:

:asian: :karate:

[Taimishu]

PS) Due to expanding belly, you may have to start wrapping your belt around you only once instead of twice!! I almost did!! :boing2:

:asian: :karate:
I have that problem and im not female and definately not pregnant.

David

[TigerWoman]

In my thirties, I wasn't in MA but I wish I was then, though. I was heavy into aerobic dancing up until the 8th month. Then I started feeling the leaps and decided to just walk. I did jogging, biking, swimming and walking with my second. I think being really active helps deliveries, it sure helped mine. But now I'm way past that.

In TKD in our school, there haven't been any women going to near term. Morning sickness and being tired in the first trimester made two women quit.--one was a high red. One green belt tried and convinced her doctor it was okay but had to quit due to jumping and unexpected bleeding in the second trimester. One woman did stay in to the sixth month, but she said she hardly did anything except forms, self defense (non contact) and punching and kicks on bags, paddles. She was ready to test for rec. BB but had to wait upon her return, retrain for five months to test. One girl, lately, came in for a college credit-3 months, and went until the 7th month of pregnancy but did not jump or workout very hard. Taekwondo isn't very conducive for pregnancy. Its hard contact sparring, jumping, spinning, breaking so I don't forsee any going to term let alone really doing the full program. But some exercise is better than nothing and most women get a feel for how far they can push it.

[TigerWoman]

Taekwondo isn't very conducive for pregnancy. Its hard contact sparring, jumping, spinning, breaking so I don't forsee any going to term let alone really doing the full program. But some exercise is better than nothing and most women get a feel for how far they can push it.

This was not meant to be negative just cautionary. It relates what I have witnessed about the women and their pregnancies in our program. Regular Taekwondo, IS a TOUGH physical regimen in our school and you either do it or get out. I'm 54 and have to keep up with everyone else. I can't pick and choose HOW to do something. Would it be better to get a corner to do a special workout alone – than why go? Maybe other disciplines are easier, lower to the ground, no jumping, sparring. The women that could modify their program and went the longest were (1) a relative of the instructor in another satellite school (2) were in her mother's beginner class. I agree exercise during and after pregnancy is excellent but I said that already. It just has to be an exercise that doesn't prematurely start labor. :asian:

[wadowoman]

I agree that caution is needed when excercising in pregnancy.

Where I disagree is that I feel a good instructor will tailor the training programme to individual needs, including females that become pregnant. If a woman gives up for nine months, it would take her 18 to get back up to standard. If she continues to train sensibly it will take a lot less time. If she chooses not to train whilst pregnant, fine, but she should have a choice.

So many women give up altogether after a pregnancy. This is why most of the highest ranking martial artists are men.
Sharon

[teej]

Well I have to agree with Wadowoman. TigerWoman has some valid points as well and KenpoTess brought up another point that my wife encountered 12 years ago when my wife was going to train while pregnant.

First I am sure that all of you ladies will agree, that all pregnancies are different. Different woman will have different physical experiences as well as different emotional experiences. Each woman will experience different health concerns. Some may have to go through term in bed by Dr. orders, any exercise being far from the students mind.

If you have had more than one child, I am sure that some of you had different pregnancies. I have heard of some woman having uncomplicated terms with one, yet a difficult time with a second child, yet a breeze with their third.

So the point being, that not everywoman will be able to exercise even if she wanted to. Some things are beyond our control.

Most certainly as TigerWoman expressed, not all programs will be appropriate for pregnant woman to engage in. Now as a Kenpo instructor, the program I teach is not "easy". However, as pointed out, I taylor to the individual needs. I try to have a family atmosphere at my studio. I don't want a student of mine to have to stay home for 9 months. I want to share in her experience and happiness and have her share with the student body, unless there are circumstances that prevent her from attending.

Now every instructor is different and may not have the understanding on female students needs, especially while pregnant. Some may consider a pregnant student a potential liability and not want them to train with them while pregnant. Now I have no medical background. I am just an instructor that has gone through 2 {3 if you count the miscarrage} pregnancies with the same woman. However; in all fairness, my instructor at the time, was single, never had any children, but he still had the presence of mind to taylor my wife's class experience.

In class, there is always something that a student can do regardless of what their limitations are at the time. If a drill has spinning or jumping kicks, I see no reason why the pregnant student can't do non-spinning or non-jumping kicks. If there is a rough or contact segment of class, the pregnant woman could work on her forms concentrating on her breathing. If you have sparring, couldn't the pregnant student help score points or keep time of rounds. If the instructor takes the time to think about it and with the students input, there are plenty of things that the pregnant student can do or participate in to stay involved at the studio. Heck with my wife, I think part of the healthy experience of training was getting out of the house or away from work and being with friends.

Now 12-13 yrs ago, as husband feeling helpless after our miscarrage, I had concerns of my wife training while pregnant. I tried to find information about woman studying the Martial Arts while pregnant. At that time, it was a difficult subject to find anything on. I contacted the major Martial Arts magazine about submitting and printing a letter so I could find any students or instructors that had suggestions or information or experience pertaining to woman training while pregnant. The individual I spoke with told me no! That magazine was no help and the individual I spoke with was not interested. {i don't recall the reason, so don't ask.}

I keep making calls to others and I was told to contact Doc Wong. I was given his phone number and he spoke to me when I called. {at the time, he had been writing a monthly column in "Inside KungFu".} He was a pleasure to speak with. He addressed my concerns and he immideately used the subject of "training while pregnant" in his next column. {so if you have back issues of Inside KungFu of about 12 yrs ago, Doc Wongs article about "training while pregnant" was because of my daughter, and if you are reading this sir, she is getting ready for her brown belt}

So in closing, this instructor feels that with their Dr. approval, woman can still train or atleast be involved somehow while pregnant. With some thought, drills can be taylored for the pregnant student. There HAS to be good, comfortable communication between the pregnant student and the class instructor. Pregnancy should be a wonderful experience for the student. Training with friends to share with can make that much better.

A proud daddy and husband,
Teej

[wadowoman]

Good post Teej.

I had a similar experience with my association when one of my student's became pregnant. They just didn't want to know.

More disturbingly, when I had finished my own research our governing body was not even interested in reading it.
Sharon

[The Kai]

There's actually 2 women at my dojo that are pregnant, I think taht they are into the 2nd tri mester.

Are jumping jacks a good idea? What to avoid?? Thanks I don't have really any experience with pregnancy (to quote Monte pytrhon - run away, run away!) And I want them to both to pracice , but i alaso want to be sensetive to thier needs
Todd

[KenpoTess]

In the first trimester, you need to be careful about not overexerting yourself and depriving the fetus of oxygen it needs to develop key organs and body parts, therefore aerobic exercise is fine in very small doses, you should alter your routine to not elevate your heart rate for more than 20 minutes at a time. Generally MD's use 120 as a target heart rate.
As you enter the 2nd Trimester, the uterus has lifted from the pelvic girdle, now the woman will be feeling 'stitches' in her sides and abdomen, Jumping should be up to each individual. Some women who are fit before pregnancy continue their same routine throughout. Personal preference should be followed as well as what their Doctors suggest. A pregnant woman needs alot of water. So you may need to remind them to take water breaks :)

Activities that are not recommended during pregnancy include: downhill skiing; horseback riding; contact sports such as soccer, basketball and hockey; bungee jumping or sky diving; and scuba diving. Sports more suited to pregnancy include: brisk walking; swimming; jogging; tennis; golf; bowling; low-impact or water aerobics; and yoga and stretching.
Martial Arts should be just fine while pregnant, just obviously avoid sparring with contact, any tecs with other partners that may incur bruising or injury :)

Hope this helps :)

~Tess

[KajuMom]

In the first trimester, you need to be careful about not overexerting yourself and depriving the fetus of oxygen it needs to develop key organs and body parts, therefore aerobic exercise is fine in very small doses, you should alter your routine to not elevate your heart rate for more than 20 minutes at a time. Generally MD's use 120 as a target heart rate.

I didn't start martial arts until 12 weeks after having my second child, but when I became pregnant with her, I was very involved in running and mountain biking. My OB supported my continued running as long as I kept my heart rate below 140 bpm. I purchased a heart rate monitor and used it to run up until my 6th month. After that, it was not enjoyable to run any longer, so I hiked in a hilly park near my house.

I did mountain bike a couple time while wearing the monitor, but one (slow speed) crash scared me, so I stopped riding and focused on running and walking.

In a casual conversation, my instructor said he would not let anyone train if he knew they were pregnant, but I don't think he's actually had to make that decision yet, in "real life."