How many times have you listened to someone giving you advice on how you should do something in the dojo, and thought, "that might work for you, but it won't work for me"?
Probably quite a few. And you were probably right, too. People constantly give well-meaning advice that doesn't necessarily apply to you. Maybe they tell you to bend your knee farther, but you have knee problems and your knee just doesn't bend that way. Maybe they tell you to put more power behind your punches, when you're punching as hard as you can. Maybe they tell you to train harder, more often, do cardio, do sit-ups, etc. They're trying to help you solve a karate problem (stance too high, no power, lack of strength) by telling you to do whatever they did to solve the same problem. The trouble with that is, what works for a 35 year old man who is 6 feet tall, 180lbs., is not the same thing that will work for a 12 year old boy who is 5'3" tall and 100lbs (growing fast and losing control of his techniques), nor is it the same thing that will work for a 50 year old woman with joint troubles.
In the past few months I have received a great amount of advice from many and diverse sources on how to handle every aspect of my pregnancy, including doing karate while pregnant. This advice has come from parents, grandparents, fellow karate-ka. It's come from women my age, older women, and men of various ages. The advice varies depending on the generation and the gender.
Once upon a time, pregnant women were encouraged to stay home, rest, keep your feet up, and drink a glass of wine every night to keep you relaxed. At other times they've been encouraged to lead a completely normal life, keeping up all of your activities and responsibilities and pretending this didn't affect you any more than a broken finger. They've been told it doesn't matter how much weight they gain, they've been told to gain hardly any weight, they've been told to eat a vegetarian diet, they've been told NOT to eat a vegetarian diet. Getting the picture?
An older man from our dojo asked not only me, but my husband, with great concern, if my doctor knew I was still training. We assured him the doctor knew. His kids are older than I am, and when his wife was expecting, conventional wisdom said you didn't exercise like this. Other older people have been amused by my avoidance of alcohol and caffeine, since they faced no such restrictions when they were expecting. People of all generations have questioned my decision to get testing done ("you're really healthy, I'm sure you're fine!"). Friends who have been pregnant ask about my diet, make suggestions on what to eat, give advice on keeping fit, give opinions on how much weight should be gained, and what symptoms I should worry about and which ones are of no concern.
They all mean well, and I appreciate it. I've listened to what they had to say and weighed it against the research I've done, what my doctor has told me, and how I feel. Because at the end of the day, I'm me. I'm not them. The advice I give in this blog is pretty general, and not all of it will apply to every pregnant woman -- or to every pregnancy she has, for that matter. So if you're reading this for advice, then realize I mean well and that what I've said applies to me, but might not apply to you.
It can be summarized neatly and with great common sense: If you're too tired to train, don't. Don't push yourself too hard when you do train, because you're not just risking your own health. Don't take unnecessary risks with yourself and your unborn baby. Pay attention to medical advice even when you don't like it (believe it or not, all those years of medical school probably taught them something!). And most of all, pay attention to your own body and try to understand what it's telling you.
Very wise!! i do believe as you said, just to listen to your own body!! I,ve know since I was young to listen to it, and I appreciate it know!!
(And by the way, how to you found it to train while you are pregnant??)
Posted by: Jill | February 04, 2007 at 06:22 PM
Doesn't take long to get the unsolicited advice huh? That's something every pregnant woman must deal with. Try to remember that most people mean well, but leave both ears open so that it can go in one side and out the other. Only you know what's best for you and your baby.
Just wait until you have the baby if you think the "advice" is bad now. . . ;-)
Posted by: Black Belt Mama | February 13, 2007 at 09:39 AM