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Pregnancy and The Importance of Exercise
Health | April 14, 2015
A really interesting study just came out in the journal Nature that seems to show just how much of an effect exercise can have on a developing child. More specifically the study showed that when an expectant mother consistently exercises it may dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease in her children.
The human heart is the first thing to develop after conception. Unfortunately, this means that congenital (present at birth) heart conditions are not only hard to detect but also hard to fix. Dr. Patrick Jay, a pediatrics professor at Washington University in St. Louis, recently told the New York Times that heart damage usually occurs before it can even be detected in babies.
The inability to detect or correct heart defects at birth has lead scientists and researchers to look for preventative measures to limit the risks. One huge factor that often affects the heart health of a child is the age of the mother. The older a woman conceives the greater the chances of heart complications in the child.
However, what the scientists in this study discovered was that if older women consistently exercise the chances of their children developing a heart condition lessens a great deal. Potentially, older women – near or around menopause – who consistently exercise have the same risk of conceiving a child with heart problems as younger women half their age. That’s freaking amazing! And not just because I’m getting old 🙂
Another interested aspect of the study was that diet did not play an important role though the scientists thought it would. They thought that a slower metabolism due to age might have more negative consequences, but it did not. Dr. Jay does seem to think that metabolic changes caused by exercise may have a lot of positive effects on the health of the uterus and, therefore, the developing child.
Now some of you might be saying, “But Z! All these studies were done on mice!” Sure, but that’s how most research works. A lot of it makes sense though. I’m curious to see more studies on this subject.
Any pregnant warriorz out there? Any warriorz able to find time and to workout while being pregnant? I have expressed my opinion about working out while pregnant in my latest coffee talk, so I wonder what you guys think.
Private Member |
Great Zuzka, I absolutely agree! There are also a couple of other studies which show that women who exercise during pregnancy have a much higher level of well being throughout the pregnancy and their delivery and experience less pain. In contrast to the former believe that women should not move to much or get their heart rates up todays research and women experiences show multiple benefits regarding working out during that time (though in moderation- everyone can manage to work out at individual intensity). If there is no physical illness that forbids exercising (like preeclampsia/too high blood pressure) every woman should take the chance to exercise as long as possible to support herself and her child.
Private Member |
Absolutely agree! I did excercises during my pregnancy and I felt great! My post-pregnancy wokrouts are coming eselly step by step. Many Thanks to You – Zuzka!
Private Member |
Zuzka, I know this might get too personal but when would you like to have a baby? I mean – I’m 30 now, 8 years in the same relationship and I still don’t want to have a baby since we’re both enjoying our lives as it is now… But at the same time, I’m getting a little nervous that it’s getting to be late and that I’ll be an old parent to my baby… On the other hand, most of my female friends (or, more specifically, acquaintances or facebook friends, haha 🙂 who are my age or a little bit older don’t have a baby yet… It kind of scares me 🙂
Private Member |
I totally agree with your words Marketa. I understand why women get a bit anxious when it comes to pregnancy talks. But, if you think about it, most of time is because someone else said something related to the age, the “it’s now or never”, etc. Just feel free to do what you want, enjoy your life, just as Zuzka pointed out in her coffee talk; think about it… when you feel you have to think about it.
Kind regards!
Private Member |
I dont know how I do it, but sometimed I can “see” people being pregnant even if it doesnt show anything yet. I dont know if its correct to say this, so moderators please delete this if not. But I feel Zuzka is pregnant… 🙂
Private Member |
ca, usa
I didn’t get married until 32, and started my family at 33. I have a 2 year old and I am 46 now. 🙂 You have plenty of time, enjoy yourself.
Private Member |
Hi Nina,
I have the exact same concern because even though we can still look great and young in the outside this doesn’t mean that my eggs are not getting older. Medically 35 and over is considered high risk but the pregnancy is still managed in a case-by-case basis. I found a good answer from an expert here: http://www.parents.com/advice/pregnancy-birth/pregnancy-complications/does-being-older-make-my-pregnancy-high-risk/
Private Member |
If you have any trepidation to having kids, don’t. I hate to say it but if you are 30 and not sure about having kids, you may just not be a parent. I know this sounds like a harsh thing to say but just hear me out; I know and have seen people who never wanted kids have kids. They always end up doing the same thing. The kid gets habitually get left with grandparents, the parent or parents begin selfishly resenting the kid for forcing them to change their lifestyle, and finally start becoming unhappy and the couple starts resenting each other. All it takes is one unhappy parent to start rebelling against their own baby to completely ruin a family. The world doesn’t need anymore kids raised by t.v. and babysitters. Maybe it’s a sort of strange mutation in our natural instincts in reply to overpopulation, but a whole lot of people do not care about family, bloodline, etc. anymore and these people should not be having unwanted kids. No normal person hates children and wants to make them suffer, but a lot of normal people do just that when thrust into the situation. They cannot adapt to their new life properly and get crushed by the weight and finality of it.
However if you always wanted kids, know you can do it, and your partner can do it, but are not sure if you are “ready”, then get rid of your birth control. You’ll never be “ready”. Let nature do it’s thing and be ready for a lot of hard and sometimes scary work and an un ending amount of intense joy! It’s the greatest thing you can do and there is nothing more wonderful… if it is something you are cut out to do.
If you and your partner don’t know if you want kids then just be happy doing what you’re doing and leave the children out of it.
Just remember, that little baby is looking to YOU.
Private Member |
birmingham, united kingdom
I’m not pregnent or not planning to be any time soon but I think I would continue exercising and probably turn for any advice to Heidi Powell because to me she seems like superwoman 😀
And here is a link to super article she wrote:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-powell/crossfit-pregnancy_b_3976657.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living
Private Member |
I was doing your workouts during pregnancy, it really helped me to stay in shape and have a good mood and more energy.
My son is now 5 months and girl 2y 4 months.
Some days i felt for a hard JR workout some days just a nice yoga workout, I was more kind to myself during pregnancy.
And after giving birth to my second child, I had a rest for 50 hours then my body was screaming for your workout.
Im probably too addicted. 🙂
I cant thank you enough for leading me and both my child through a lovely pregnancy, easy birth and fast recovery.
And one thing that really helps my kids to calm down is YOU, your voice. They sleep so good when they hear your voice and you working out.
My daughter is doing burpees since the age of one year, and she says she wants to jump rope just like you do.
I wish that if i stay active and workout on a daily basis my kids will learn a healthy active lifestyle too.
Private Member |
toluca, state of mexico, mexico
I´m planning to get pregnant next december and I´ve already expressed my big interest to keep working out since doing exercise is something that I deeply love.
What I asked Zuzka, is if I can do some kind of different excersices so that I don´t hurt the baby. She told me to try to get in the best shape I can before pregnancy so that I can continue with her after the baby.
Zuzka, I wish you could do something for pregnant women, I mean, Some research to do excercises. We could read and learn something here and there, but to me, you are proffessional and your opinion is really important to many women 😀 I´m also getting old since I´m 32 so If everything goes fine, I´ll be pregnant at 33 so I´m worried because I don´t want to stop working out with you 🙁
I don´t know if you mention something like this in the coffe talk, I´ll watch it later 😀
greetings!!
Private Member |
I have three children ages 11, 8 and 4. I remained active through two of my pregnancies but slacked off during the last one. My excuse was that I was too busy with the business of motherhood already….I regretted that. I am in better shape now than I was before I had kids. Zuzka, I did something similar to what you talked about in your coffee talk: I did longer, lower intensity workouts. I think a woman knows what feels right or awkward in her body while she’s pregnant. I hear of some people doing JR or running, but because of how my body carried my babies, I felt horrible running and jumping. Everyone is built a little different and will have different comfort levels with each type of exercise during pregnancies. Staying in shape as we age and give birth is so amazing, but my favorite part is when my daughters tell me how strong I am, and tell me about how strong they want to be. They have asked me, “Are you the strongest woman?” And I love telling them that there are many women in the world who are much stronger than me. Strength is beauty to them, and that’s the best part.
Private Member |
I have been always very active(running, kangoo jumps,pilates,weights) but I stopped working out around 25 weeks on my 2 pregnancies( didn’t have the energy or motivation). Had 2 C-sections, I’m 42 years old and I have 2 healthy boys (4 and 2 years old). I wear size 2 and I’m in the best shape ever. Sometimes, you just have to listen to your body. Love your work outs Zuzka!!
Private Member |
I was pregnant 3 times and during that i was following you since you were with bodyrock . So i think it was great for me a i recover my body so quick i don t look like i have 3 kids 🙂 and my kids are so happy baby and healthy and i beleive from the workout .
Private Member |
I was 37 when my son was born. I worked out just like I always had. I did Pilates, kickboxing, step aerobics, weightlifting etc right on. I even went into labor at the gym! My Dr. told me to think of the baby like a pickle in a jar full of juice…even though you shake the jar, the pickle is just fine. My son is perfectly healthy and science says exercising is best for the cardiovascular system of the baby. In fact, about the only time he wasn’t kicking the crap out of me from the inside was when I was working out! I think he liked it…