Exercise During Pregnancy: Staying Active While Working & Caring for Others

Question
Hi! I am 14 weeks pregnant. i work as a veterinary technician and am on my feet about 8 hours a day M-Th and I do my share of lifting. My pregnancy so far has been very easy on me and I am still able to do all my normal household cleaning and laundry and run all of my errands which normally takes up my Fri and part of Sunday. I take care of not only my husband and 3 cats, but for my mother-in-law as well (cooking for her, cleaning for her, etc.) Fatigue has been a problem for me. When I get home I'm so tired and on the weekend any "down time" I have (after errands, cleaning, visiting family, etc) all I want to do is rest. Since I am so active in my normal life do I really need to push myself to exercise during my pregnancy or is it better to rest now and maybe add some in later if I feel less fatigued? Thanks for your input!

Answer
Fatigue is a common first trimester complaint. Many women feel more energetic in the second trimester. It's always good to listen to your body and respond appropriately. So if resting is what your body needs, then some down time on the couch with a book is a good idea.

As your pregnancy progresses, you will need to taper down the amount of lifting that you do. After 20 weeks or so, the abdominal muscles will be stretched out to the point where they no longer provide adequate support for you spine. Once this happens you should no longer lift and carry heavy objects.

Cleaning your own home as well as your MIL, sounds like a lot. As your pregnancy progresses, you'll need to cut down on this amount of work. This is the time to focus on your own health, and your own needs, as this is the best way to have the healthiest baby.