Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy by Chris Lundgren

Author:Chris Lundgren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2013-05-09T04:00:00+00:00

YOUR CONCERNS

Early Contractions

You’ll learn the term Braxton-Hicks contraction later in your pregnancy when you’re trying to tell the difference between pre-labor and the real thing. Braxton-Hicks contractions make you feel like your baby is squeezing into a little ball inside your abdomen. They don’t hurt—they just make your belly feel peculiar for a while.

It is important to learn the difference between a Braxton-Hicks contraction and a labor contraction. In addition to not causing pain, the Braxton-Hicks variety stays in the middle to upper portion of your abdomen. True labor contractions feel an awful lot like menstrual cramps and originate in your lower back, radiating around front. It goes without saying, however, that if you feel a twinge in your pelvis but don’t know how to identify it, call your doctor.

Beginning in the second trimester, athletes frequently notice a Braxton-Hicks contraction at the beginning of each exercise session. “You’ll become more sensitive to it as you get further along in your pregnancy, unless you’ve already had kids,” says Dr. Kulpa. “In that case, you’ll pick it up a lot sooner.” The sensation should disappear within a minute or two. But if you feel as many as four of these within 1 hour, go home, drink fluids to make sure you’re hydrated, and lie down on your side. Call your doctor if you feel the squeezing sensation on and off for 20 minutes or more. Braxton-Hicks contractions could start dilating and effacing your uterus in preparation for a premature birth.

Anemia

One of the more serious “side effects” of second-trimester pregnancy is anemia. It usually strikes between the fourth and sixth months as your blood volume expands and the baby grows bigger and demands more from you nutritionally. As a result, your iron stores become depleted, making you feel sluggish and tired, especially when you run. That first-trimester breathlessness you thought was gone now makes an unwelcome comeback.

Your doctor will check for anemia at your first prenatal visit and again around the 20th week. If you feel like some of your first-trimester woes are returning, ask to be tested ahead of schedule. Your low iron stores won’t hurt the baby, but your running will suffer.

Anemia is usually treated with iron supplements and a change in diet. Iron-rich foods include beef, shrimp, spinach, refried beans, turkey, prune juice, and fortified breakfast cereal. Your body will not absorb the iron in fortified cereals well, but adding vitamin C–packed juices or fruits to your meals will help with absorption. Remember that all that iron in your diet can cause constipation, so drink lots of liquids and eat fiber-rich veggies, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.

Nasal Congestion

Exercising during pregnancy can be a double-hankie affair. Your legs aren’t the only things running. Higher levels of estrogen and progesterone increase blood flow everywhere—including your nasal passages. They tend to swell and get softer, making you stuffy and prone to nosebleeds. (Your gums may also bleed when you brush your teeth.) Bring handkerchiefs or tissues on each run, and don’t be surprised if a little blood comes out when you blow.

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