Had a great elliptical workout the day I went into labor at 39.5 weeks. Key for me was doing it first thing in the morning. Also, in the last month or two, I had to cut out one workout a week, so I did 3 per week instead of 4. The 4th wore me out too much.

At 32 weeks I am making my best effort to keep up with prenatal yoga 2-3 times a week. Even when I am exhausted or in physical discomfort, I remind myself how good I feel during/after class and how well I usually sleep after class.

I agree with the "just do it" approach. Unless you are in pain or discomfort when you exercise, its usually just fatigue or general (well-deserved) laziness that stops most people. I made it to 35w still at the gym with #3 and then developed (unlreated) high blood pressure so I stopped.

Maybe you can try swimming at the times of day when it doesnt matter if you take a nap afterwards? I know some people like to have their nurseries ready when baby gets here but ours wasnt ready for 2 months afterward. We just used a bassinet in the beginning and you will have more time when you are on maternity leave.

Housework helped keep my mind off of the pain of moving.

Walking is goof

I swam every other day alternating with prenatal yoga. I can't tell you how I kept it up except to "just do it". I made it a priority. No, I was not swimming as fast as in my high school swim team days but I got in a lot of cardio and strength swimming up until m delivery. I also made sure I ate right and often to keep up my energy. Are you eating enough and eating good vitamin-rich foods?

I had a very good delivery with no drugs or intervention and I do credit a good deal of my ease to the fact that I stayed in "shape" while I was pregnant.

I really love swimming, but am struggling to keep it up. I'm only going on weekend mornings at this point, because it's when I have the energy. And even then, I am not nearly swimming at my usual pace or distance. But I don't focus on that, because I figure just getting in the pool makes me feel so good - mentally and physically.

BUT - that last couple of weekends, once I've gotten home from even a slow, short, gentle swim, I am pretty much done for the day. Like exhausted and needing a long nap that I never really bounce back from. Am at 32 weeks now and really hoping that I'm not going to have to give up swimming until after the baby gets here and I'm recovered. But I can't lose my weekend days when I still have so much to do to get nursery ready and two other kids at home needing attention.

Any suggestions? Did anyone else go through this?