Many pregnant women do like to keep up
with a gentle exercise routine while expecting, but it's doubtful that
many would fancy doing an 800m running race.
However, a five-time national champion did just that and ran it in just over two minutes - all while she was 34-weeks pregnant.
Alysia Montano, a former University of California star athlete,
may have finished last in the race yesterday at the Hornet Stadium in
Sacramento, California, but she said she felt 'really good'.
Look at her go! Alysia Montano, left, who is 34 weeks pregnant, competes in the quarterfinals of the 800 meter sin the U.S. outdoor track and field championships in Sacramento, California
The 28-year-old runner, who received a standing ovation after completing the race in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds, said: 'I’ve been running throughout my pregnancy and I felt really, really good during the whole process.'
Her finishing time was 35 seconds slower than her personal best of 1:57.34, which she smashed back in 2010 in a race in Monaco.
She was never close to being lapped, taking a nice, relaxed pace from the start and maintaining it throughout.
'I just didn't want to get lapped and be the first person to get lapped in the 800,' said Montano.
Feeling fine: Alysia Montano, a former University of California star athlete, may have finished last in the race yesterday at the Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California, but she said she felt 'really good'
That was according to the plan Montano laid out after consulting with her physician. Not only did doctors give Montano the OK to run but she says they encouraged her.
'That took away any fear of what the outside world might think about a woman running during her pregnancy,' Montano said.
'What I found out mostly was that exercising during pregnancy is actually much better for the mom and the baby...I did all the things I normally do...I just happened to be pregnant. This is my normal this year.'
Good effort: Montano, a four-time national champion in the 800, came in last in her heat with a time a 2 minutes, 32.3 seconds but received a standing ovation
She's certainly not the first to pull on her jogging shoes while pregnant and she won't be the last.
Nell McAndrew famously came under fire when she revealed in 2012 that at 20 weeks pregnant with her second child, she was still running six miles a day.
Like Olympic athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Jo Pavey, who ran moderately throughout their
pregnancies and went on to have healthy babies, Nell decreased the intensity as well as length of her runs to alleviate any risk to herself and her unborn child.
Yet despite Nell taking all the precautions recommended by medical professionals, she has still faced outrage from people who have accused her of putting her baby at risk through exercise.
Doctor's orders: Her doctors encouraged her to
participate, which, she says, took away any fear of what the outside
world might think about a woman running during her pregnancy
Keeping fit: Nell McAndrew was still running six miles a day while pregnant with her second child, but this is a big step down from the mileage she did when training to run sub three hours at the London Marathon in 2012, right
She told the MailOnline at the time: 'When I tell people I'm still exercising, they react as if I've told them I've been smoking or drinking alcohol while pregnant. But what I'm doing is actually good for me and my baby.'
Nell said she felt good being active and that by being fit, she feels she was better prepared for child birth.
'I feel like keeping fit is preparing me for the labour - which will be harder than running a marathon!' she said.
Nell's belief that fitness aids labour is is backed up by studies that have found that babies
of women who exercise are better off when it comes to their birth because 'fetuses of exercising women may tolerate labour better than those of non-exercisers,' according to The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Famous example: Paula Radcliffe reduced her training but carried on running when she was pregnant, as pictured here when taking part in a fun run with her daughter Isla while carrying her son
Along with official NHS guidelines that recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day for expectant mothers, the RCOG also advocate exercise where there are no complications in the pregnancy and precautions are taken such as not exercising at a high intensity to raise the heart rate to its maximum and not running while it's too hot due to a risk of overheating.
They state: 'In most cases, exercise is safe for both mother and fetus during pregnancy and women should therefore be encouraged to initiate or continue exercise to derive the health benefits
associated with such activities.'
They add that it's a fallacy that exercise increases the risk of miscarriage or damage to an unborn baby stating 'women should be advised that adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes are not increased for exercising women.'
They explain that exercising while pregnant has numerous benefits for the mother's health and wellbeing.
DOS AND DONT'S FOR RUNNING WHILE PREGNANT
DO run at an easy pace - you should have enough breath to hold a conversation
DO watch for posture and position of the back and pelvis – do not allow yourself to arch in the lower back
DO react immediately to any pains and aches i.e don't run through them
DO NOT take up running for the first time when pregnant
DO NOT run when tired
DO NOT run on a very hot day
DO NOT run for six weeks after giving birth
'Maternal benefits appear to be both physical and psychological in nature. Many common complaints of pregnancy, including fatigue, varicosities and swelling of extremities, are reduced in women who exercise. Additionally, active women experience less insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression,' they state.
Women who exercise while pregnant will also gain less excess weight, lowering the health risks associated with obesity.
Speaking about whether it's safe to run while pregnant, maternal health expert Sheeva Talebian, M.D., told Women's Running: 'Running is safe anytime -during the first, second and third trimester - if you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy.
'You should not run if you have complications like elevated blood pressure or, in some cases, multiple gestation, that would cause an obstetrician to advise no high-impact exercise.
'Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t stay in shape. All of the same reasons you normally exercise - heart health, stress reduction, weight maintenance, lower blood pressure - are reasons to run during pregnancy.
'Additionally, women who exercise while pregnant have lower rates of diabetes and preeclampsia, and they are less likely to gain an unhealthy (and potentially dangerous) amount of weight. There’s even some data that suggests babies born to women who worked out while expecting have stronger cardiovascular systems.'
