painful knees at 22 weeks, and ab questions

[chloesmom]

Hi! I'm 22 weeks along and I know why my knees are more sensitive, I guess I just need to touch base with you guys about it. I sometimes wonder if I should or shouldn't be "pushing it" to get a workout in. I don't want to hurt myself and not be able to exercise obviously, but even taking a day off my knees doesn't make them better, so I guess I'm struggling to find a balance of keeping up my workouts and not pushing too hard. Do you guys ever feel that way?

Also, about abs. I see that a lot of you have kept up with Cathe's abs and modified them. I can't seem to do that. I get nervous about creating a diastalis. I read Maternal Fitness and really want to get motivated to include that into my routine, but she's a bit crazy about how much to do every day. And she focuses so much on avoiding crunches and oblique work. I guess I am trying to listen to my body, but it's a body that is foreign to me and I don't always understand it!! lol!
I have started during Pilates for Pregnancy and it feels great to be able to do that, but I really want to be more diligent about my core work. How often is everyone training their abs? Do you think yoga (I'm doing prenatal vinyasa) works it well enough too? Any tips from those who feel they have a good core program going??

 

[melimcn]

Hmmm, well, I have no answers for you, but I'll tell you what I'm doing and just hoping for the best!

I'm 24 weeks. I'm still doing TaeBo (the old school Live Advanced, or, "real" workouts) that are pretty heavily ab intensive. I've taken out twisting motions, but am still working obliques and back, as that's part of the package with TaeBo. I don't do crunches, but do Kegels everyday to at least keep my transverse trained. So far, I do not have a diastasis. But if I develop one, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...
I'm doing TaeBo work 2 days/week at this point, working out a total of 4 (5 if I'm good) days each week.

As for Cathe work, I haven't found that my knees or joints are particularly more sensitive than they were pre-pregnancy. But, I've also taken my step down to just the board with no risers, so that may be a factor as well.

 

[morris]

i guess i will add to your question - i did not know one could "create" a diastisis by doing crunches. i thought that devloped on its own with the starin of the baby. just curious how you cause one. as far as the question of pushing it, i am sure i have been guilty of forcing a workout, but i do find with pregnancy (i am 25 weeks), i can push it to move, but i cannot push myself to jump higher or farther or faster. so, i feel like if i can workout, i will be okay if i am not too breathless or not dizzy. definately need to listen to your self though. good luck with the knees!

 

[MSJ]

Well, I have sensitive knees, but it has little to do with pregnancy. I do get lower back pain during pregnancy, so I find I have to modify so as not to aggrevate that.

I would take several days or a week off to rest your knees--it's okay, you won't lose your fitness level--and then when you resume, I would modify your cardio by alternating cardio with weights every other day, or by making sure that you cross train to give those knees a break. If you try to push through this, you may end up really hurting yourself. (and these are just suggestions--take it or leave it, right )

Everyone's body responds to pregnancy a little differently. Knees may be a weak point for you, like my lower back is for me.

Take care
Maggie