Exercise and Fertility: Navigating Trying to Conceive After Loss

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

   I hope this question falls under your genre. Here is my story I had a healthy and perfect unexpected pregnancy in 2007 my boy was born in December. I started trying to conceive again in January 09, we got pregnant but had a blighted ovum and a d & c June 1st. I've had either a chemical pregnancy or a false positive in August 2009 the OB said it looked like a normal period and my HCG was at zero.

Here is my question I have been regularly exercising since my son was born but started skateboarding when he was about a year old.
I've been reducing skateboarding in the last 2 weeks of my cycle when implantation should occur and there is any possibility of pregnancy, but everyone is telling me I shouldn't modify my lifestyle and when I find out I'm not pregnant I get frustrated that I've been living like I am...

I also recently started a more rigorous exercise routine video combining strength, cardio and abs.

So my question is can more rigorous exercise and/or skateboarding/falling prevent implantation from occurring or cause an early miscarriage in a pregnancy that can't be detected by a home pregnancy test yet?

ANSWER: Exercise makes a women healthier. Maternal health and fetal health are one in the same. Healthier women tend to be more fertile, and are more likely to have a healthy, problem free pregnancy and healthy, strong baby. Healthy moms raise healthy kids.

Keep doing what you love to stay fit and active. Eat a super high quality diet. Start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid now, before you become pregnant.

Pregnancy loss, whether at just weeks or many months along is difficult. But there's always a good reason why a pregnancy does not advance beyond the first trimester. Exercise does not interfere with implantation.

However, when you do become pregnant again, you should avoid all activities where you could fall, or receive a blow to the abdomen.





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QUESTION: So is it ok to skateboard (where I could fall) before I get a positive pregnancy test? Or should a stop for the last two weeks of the month when there is a chance of pregnancy?

Answer
At implantation, the embryo is anywhere from 16 to 32 cells, so no, if you did take a fall from a skateboard, it would not have any effect on whether or not implantation will or will not happen.

But it does sound like you have concerns over the issue, so if it makes you nervous, switch to another fitness activity that you enjoy for those days of the month.