@ Working Out While Pregnant- Trouble Catching Breath?

[woodgnome]

I've tried to maintain a pretty decent level of exercise this pregnancy. I'm now 30 weeks & during the second tri, I was working out 5-6 days a week doing spin and weights. Over the last month, it's turned into more walking on the treadmill at an incline 3-4 times a week. 

Yesterday, I walked for about an hour at an incline and my average heart rate was 144, so really not all that high. I took a shower and when I got out, I was extremely lightheaded and felt like I was going to pass out so I ate something to see if that would help but it didn't. I couldn't catch my breath and my heart rate was staying between 118-150 BPM. I took my blood pressure about an hour and a half after I finished my workout and it was 151/98 so I ended up having to take a little trip to L&D because I had gestational hypertension with my first pregnancy. Anyways, long story short, it took about 4 hours but finally my heart rate came down, I felt like I could breath, and my blood pressure came down as well. They really didnt have an explanation as to why this happened but after running labs that came back normal, they were confident that both myself and the baby were fine. 

Has anyone experienced this? Honestly, I'm afraid to work out again until I see my OB next week. I dont think I've ever been that close to passing out before and since I have a preschooler at home, it was a scary feeling.

[Wines Not Whines]

That sounds scary! I'm glad you checked out ok. I didn't experience that when I was pregnant, but you said you have a history of gestational hypertension, so I wonder if it's related. Can you call your OB and talk to him/her before your appointment?

[shauni27]

oh man, that is terrifying! I had a similar experience just once while I was pregnant, and it involved taking a shower as well, but I do not recall it having anything to do with working out.

I would think that it would be ok to try working out again, maybe just plan to not do the incline or go so hard. And maybe just plan for 30 minutes and be prepared to stop right away if you notice anything is off. If it happens again THEN I would probably back off from exercising for awhile.

[minzy]

That’s scary; I’m glad you and the baby are ok.

I wasn’t working out at the time, but I did almost pass out eight months pregnant on a hot day while shopping alone. I got very lightheaded and heard the “buzzing,” so I knew I needed to get my brain level with my heart quick before my body did it for me. (“Fun” physiology - if your blood pressure gets too low, you pass out and your body drops to the ground so the freshly oxygenated blood from your heart doesn’t have to fight gravity so hard - as it does when you’re upright - to get to your brain where it’s crucially needed.) In my case, there was a bench nearby so I just laid down and focused on breathing for awhile. I made myself eat and get something to drink, and then I was ok.

I’m not a doctor but I think it probably won’t hurt to go super easy on yourself with the walks for awhile, and lay down right away if you feel lightheaded again.

[mrshandy]

Did they say whether your iron levels were normal?

I know I started to feel light headed and woozy at times during DD's pregnancy and they discovered that I was slightly anemic so I started taking iron pills.

Did you call your OB to tell them? I'm guessing they would want to hear this.

[oswin]

Yikes. I would probably just take it easy until you see your OB - work out but less. I had a lot of trouble catching my breath while pregnant and doing CrossFit, my heart rate would take a while to recover, but nothing like what happened to you.

[woodgnome]

Nov 21, 2018 14:25:18 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Did they say whether your iron levels were normal?

I know I started to feel light headed and woozy at times during DD's pregnancy and they discovered that I was slightly anemic so I started taking iron pills.

Did you call your OB to tell them? I'm guessing they would want to hear this.

The nurse actually mentioned that possibility but my iron levels were normal. My OB is the one who sent me to L&D but I have an appt next Tuesday so I’ll hopefully get more answers then.

[vamoose]

How much water do you drink during your workout? I have to stay extra super hydrated during any exercise in pregnancy (especially now at 34 weeks) or I get light headed and my heart rate shoots up. I usually bring two water bottles and drink both over a 40 minute workout.

[Susie]

That sounds really scary.  I haven't had that experience, but my OB is super conservative and tells me to keep HR under 140.  I'm not sure I always follow that, but I try.  I would second the hydration question as a possible explanation, but I'd do some more walking/yoga and less running between now and when you can see your OB again.  Hopefully it was just a one-off thing.  Bodies are weird, but pregnant bodies exponentially so.