Heavy Exercise Linked to Miscarriage

I had bleeding in the end of the first trimester of my first pregnancy.  I was running, lifting weights, spinning and doing step aerobics.  I had severe hemorrhaging around 9-10 weeks with my second pregnancy.  I was practicing Ashtanga yoga (a physically intense practice) five days a week.  I have often wondered why I had complications in my pregnancies. I often suspected the Ashtanga might have been the culprit, but now I am almost certain.  A new study  carried out at the University of Southern Denmark, looking at the exercise routine of more then 90,000 women, reveals a higher miscarriage rate among women who exercised heavily.  After 18 weeks of pregnancy, the link between exercise and pregnancy disappeared.  Now the study isn't perfect (are any?) but the reality is you need to take it easy until a pregnancy is well-established.

Why did I work out so intensely in early pregnancy?  I have an immense amount of energy and had not yet learned to use mindful meditation to slow myself down.  Exercise, yoga, was a way to extinguish some of my fire.  Prayer, meditation, being a stay at home mom of two, has taught me to slow my pace down and I no longer need a hard run or an intense ashtanga practice to stay balanced.  Interestingly enough, I have taken excellent care of my body this first trimester, am past the the 12 week mark, and remain complication-free.  Moms, take care of yourself!  Slow down for a few weeks.  If you really must run that marathon, save your intense training for after the first trimester.