Running in the first trimester!

Let's get a few things out of the way first, okay?
I am not a medical professional, or any other kind of professional.  This is my personal opinion.  Don't sue me if anything goes wrong, or tell your doctor *I* said it was okay - who am I anyway?

1 - Is it *gasp* safe?  

If you were a runner before you got pregnant, do not have any complications, and understand that you need to listen to your body, then it absolutely is.  You should probably go ahead & ask your midwife/OB first, but keep in mind that some of them are clueless.  Just 'cause you're a doctor doesn't make you...  Well, I'll leave that between you & your doctor of choice.  

For me, it is absolutely safe (and yes, I did speak to my midwife about it before I got pregnant).  In fact, it's something I need, to keep my blood pressure in check.  I'm not looking to create new distance or speed PRs (nor should any pregnant woman), but I can continue at or below the level I was comfortable with before getting pregnant.  I  just listen to my body, if it starts to feel like too much, I slow it down, walk, or call it a day.  It's hard to accept that you can't do all that you could pre-fetus, but it is what it is & growing that [healthy] fetus is way more important than any mileage/speed/race goals.  

2 - Can't you hurt the baby?

Yes, yes you can.  If you trip & fall, abdomen first, into a boulder that impacts your uterus, the baby could be hurt.  Yeah, not so likely is it?  Bouncing up & down as you run will. not. hurt your baby any more than having sex will poke them in the head.  I mean come on people, let's use a little common sense!

3 - Should I monitor my heart rate?

I read mixed opinions in researching this topic.  For some, it seems heart rate monitoring is a bit old school.  For others, it's something you absolutely should do.  I'd say ask your midwife/OB their opinion & do your own research, then decide for yourself.  (While I'm not going to endorse going against your doctor's wishes [in a normal, healthy pregnancy], may I remind you that you are the one in control of your body, not the doctor.  If you disagree with their opinion, take the chances you wish to take, but be educated before you take your chances.)  

For me, I have decided not to worry about heart rate monitoring, at least in the first trimester.  Honestly, my heart rate is more elevated some days at work than it is while I'm out running.  ;)

4 - What about core temp?

While increased core temps can cause problems, such as miscarriage, it's hard to really gauge your core temp without carrying a rectal thermometer around with you.  (Nice image, huh?  Especially if you imagine that thing in place while running.  Oh, that's not the image you had in your head already?  My bad.)  I think you should pay attention to how you're feeling & definitely don't overheat yourself, but...  I live in TX.  It gets well over 100 degrees for many days in the summer here.  Pregnant women are not advised to never step foot outside during that time & I can guarantee you that the core temp of a very-pregnant woman rises a lot in the heat.   The magic bad number I seemed to find was 101.  I don't own a rectal thermometer (nor do I intend to buy one :p), so I can't say how it feels to be that hot at your core.  I'd imagine it'd be pretty uncomfortable & remember, while pregnant, you need to attempt to be comfortable while running.

For me, I'm not going to overdo it, but not stress too much about it either.  It's easy to get miserably hot in pregnancy.  I listen to my body & stop long before it becomes unbearable.  I encourage you to do your own research & seek the advice of your midwife/OB on this subject also. No matter what you decide about the core temp issue, be sure to drink water & electrolytes.  Plenty of them.  Please.

Now, for the fun things I've learned about running in the first trimester...

1 - If you are keeping your pregnancy a secret & you run with friends...  Well, good luck with that.

Remember my mean strong-arm running partner, Denya?  Well, I told her the first run we did together after I knew.  For one, I wanted her to know in case, heaven forbid, something happened & I needed medical assistance.  Also, I knew that she would be yelling at me & wondering why I was sucking so much.  I knew I couldn't come up with enough believable excuses for the entire first trimester, so I told her.  Keeping it from my other running buddies was a challenge, but they aren't paying as much attention to me & what I can do vs what I am doing, so it's slightly easier to come up with excuses.

2 - First trimester + exhaustion + running...  huh???

Oh that wonderful exhaustion of the first trimester.  It makes you want to crawl in bed at 7.  Which is hard enough when you have another child to take care of, but even harder when you usually run around 8.  Ugh.  Some nights sleep beats running.  Some nights, running wins...  then I'm up all night with insomnia.  Curse nature!  Just do what you can, when you can & don't feel guilty about the days you miss!

3 - Didn't I just pee though?
Before becoming pregnant I felt like I needed to pee all the time while I was running (I guess it's all the jiggling).  Now, I actually DO need to pee all the time while I'm running.  I empty my bladder before I start, but, well, I'm pregnant.  There's really nothing you can do about it.  I suppose you could take to wearing an adult diaper (or maybe just a pad?), but that seems like a bad solution, unless you enjoy diaper rash.  I can make it 3-4 miles before I feel like my bladder will play evil tricks on me if I keep ignoring it.  That makes it quite difficult to get long runs in, but perhaps a nice break is good for me & baby.

4 - Oh the bloat!
This one is a problem if you are hiding the pregnancy (or attempting to) for the first trimester.  Not only do you look like you've been eating too many Twinkies & skipping too many runs, but those nice, close fitting running pants/shorts/skirts...  ouch!  Thankfully, for me, just as the bloat started getting bad, the weather got cooler.  That meant I could get away with wearing a stash of slightly bigger exercise pants, rather than my circulation-stopping running attire.  Whew.  I do forsee an expensive stash of pregnancy running clothes in my future though.  Good thing I already have a huge stash of non-running maternity clothes.  ;)

5 - Spotting?  Cramping?  Puking?
Spotting - on two different occasions, I had a little scare.  Luckily, it was not right after a run either time, or I would've probably called off the idea of running.  It's okay to be paranoid like that I think, I mean, you're carrying another life inside you!  Everything was just fine (whew!!), but the first time I took a few extra days off from running & the second I took a couple of weeks.  I mean you can never be too careful, right?  While running isn't gonna jar the baby loose or anything like that, IMHO, it's still better to take it easy any time your body gives you some signals that something is going on.
Cramping - anytime I've had some cramping, I've taken it easy.  Period.  Again, you can never be too careful.      Sometimes it's just a matter of needing to drink more - make sure you watch that!  Sometimes I think it's just your body telling you to relax a little.
Puking - anyone who knows me knows I AM NOT A PUKER.  Period.  Luckily [knock on lots & lots & lots of wood], pregnancy doesn't change that fact for me. There have been runs though, that I swear I actually would like to puke, just so I can feel better & move on.  That's saying a lot, if *I* want to puke.  If you do battle morning sickness that causes puking, be careful & remember to add in extra food (even if it's just a box of saltines!), 'cause your body really needs the calories.

Now that all that is out of the way...
It's only the first trimester, so I haven't had to buy any new running clothes.  Yay.  I mean, I do like shopping, but running attire for pregnant women is a bit spendy, especially considering how long you'll use it.
My hips, they are a-moving!  The day after a run, I feel like I did a lot more than run X miles up & down the street.  My body feels stretched, sore, & out of whack the next day.  Usually, as the day goes on I either become accustomed to it, or it actually feels better.

I feel left out.  (No, not throwing this in here for a pity party or new exceptions due to the "fragile emotional state of the pregnant woman".)  I just feel left out.  I run alone more now 'cause even if I am with other people, they're interested in running faster than I care to push it.  I'm not signing up for races, 'cause I don't want to waste the money.  Mostly though, I feel like all my friends' running plans are made with the exclusion of me, and maybe that's because I used to just put myself in the middle of it more & don't now, I'm not sure.  I highly doubt they mean to leave me out, or I at least hope that's not the case.  ;)  I'm just not in the same place that they are right now, so they are continuing down a path that I've had to veer off of.  It's life.  Plus, you know what?  Running isn't about my friends.  I'm glad I had them to get me on this track, but now running is about ME (well, plus the fetus for the next several months).  hmmmm, that just made me realize that I actually don't ever run alone.  Think passers-by would find it strange if I started trying to carry on a conversation with my uterus?  hehe!  All that matters is that I get out there & do it.  Running along honestly isn't so bad anyway, it's nice to drift off into thoughts of your own sometimes.

So, now that I have closed the door on the first trimester, I guess I can say my only complaint has been feeling a little left out.  It's possible part of that goes along with the crazy hormonal state I'm in, but part of it is just that my life is going in a different direction right now.  An amazing, exciting, joyful direction.
Now it's time to see what the second trimester brings for me as a runner!