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I don't think there's a correlation at all, if we're talking about nausea or pre-E or gestational diabetes. For other things, like maybe back pain or something, I would be a maybe. Maybe if you are somehow keeping your core muscles working, you'll have less pain....but then I also think it's sort of impossible to truly work your core when your abs are so distended.

I don't think so. I was in reasonably good shape for both of mine and actually ran until about 11 weeks this time, but as far as symptoms go, this current pregnancy has kicked my butt.

I was in super good shape before and during my whole pregnancy and I had hyperemesis gravidarum. I was incredibly nauseous and throwing up all day long until 22 weeks. I had some other minor annoying symptoms like carpal tunnel but overall if I hadn't been SO sick, my pregnancy would have been very easy.
So I guess I think some other symptoms like discomfort were minimized, I was really never uncomfortable until like the day of delivery. But being in shape did NOT help the sickness part.
I had a pretty fast and easy labor though, and pretty easy recovery despite a 4th degree tear. I do think being fit made a difference in that respect.

I've been in similar (good) fitness at the beginning of all 3 of my pregnancies. With my first 2, I didn't do much active during the first tri, but this one I have kept up my running. I think it's just been luck of the draw in terms of whether or not I stayed active during this part. BUT, this time around, my "morning" sickness tends to hit in the mid-afternoon/early evening, and I have found that on the days when I exercise in the morning, it's not as bad later that day. Totally anecdotal evidence there, though

I do agree with others that I think that being relatively active & fit (as much as possible) helps with recovery!

I also don't think there's any correlation. I was physically fittest just before each pregnancy with my boys, and they were two completely different pregnancies. I was sick only during the first trimester with LO1, and ALL. THE. TIME. with LO2. I did a ton of walking with both pregnancies, and got back into running as soon as I could after both.

@nana87: I definitely think it helps in delivery and recovery. And its good for the baby, too! Glad you are feeling good so far this time around!

What @Foodnerd81 said! (Correlation =\= causation!)

@nana87: Both boys too! Go figure.

Cardio is the only thing that helped my morning sickness. If I skipped a day, I was so sick! Nothing crazy, just 20-30 minutes of light elliptical made me feel a million times better

Nope. I was in pretty great shape before #1 and my morning sickness and fatigue were worse with her than with #2. #2 I was in pretty good shape but not as great as before #1. But #1 was a girl and #2 is a boy so maybe it's true you get worse MS with girls lol.
But if you don't get much morning sickness/nausea, you are more likely to be able to continue working out. Whereas when you're sick every AM and at 5pm and then ready for bed by 7pm it's more difficult to be able to work out. I think your morning sickness/nausea affects your ability to work out, not the opposite. I felt like shit regardless and TBH when I pushed myself to try and work out I felt even worse.

Now, once you get into the second trimester and can hopefully start working out again (I give everyone a pass on working out if you have a lot of nausea or MS) and at least maintain that somewhat throughout your pregnancy I do think exercise has a positive effect on the pushing stage and recovery after birth.

I always felt better working out and worse sitting around... so scientific or not, I think working out can kind of help with bad symptoms! Now, if I felt really crappy I probably wouldn't have worked out... so... who knows?

I felt like running helped with morninh sickness for my first, with my second it was neutral, with my third I'm overwhelmed with complete exhaustion afterwards. So different each time. I probably was in best shape with my first but I started out at the same weight with all 3.

No.

No, being in good shape doesn't have anything to do with your morning sickness or anything like that. What it will help with is your level of aches and pains, your ability to sleep, you overall sense of wellbeing. I had one pregnancy where I wasn't fit, didn't exercise - and I had the usual aches and pains, trouble sleeping, general misery. Then I had a second pregnancy where I rode my bike until 2 days before I went in to labor - and it was like night and day. Way fewer aches. Slept like a dream. Felt great all the time. So that certainly changes.

I was way more in shape when I got pregnant with #3 than with #1 or 2, and I was wayyy sicker first trimester!

I'm sure there is some, but it is by no means a guarantee. I cringe when people say things like, "I didn't have any hip or back pain, but that's because I worked out regularly." Or "I had an easy labor because I was in such good shape." I definitely believe exercise makes pregnancy/labor easier. But that's not all there is to it. If you have an easy pregnancy/labor, it is partially what you did, and partially circumstances beyond your control.

My first pregnancy I worked out diligently, and also had SPD and horrible hip pain. I was super sick with heartburn and would wake up vomiting on reflux in the middle of the night. It wasn't my diet either - water made me sick. My labor was rough and painful - I had back labor due to a posterior baby and a failed epidural.

My second pregnancy I didn't go to the gym, but I did yoga and lots of walking and toddler chasing. So I was active, but less so. Pregnancy was easy and my labor was a dream. 7 hrs, no epidural, everything went fine. (I also wasn't full term granted - delivered at 36 w)

This pregnancy I'm working out more. I take the kids hiking 3-4 times a week, but it's very slow and we just go a mile or two. I'm doing more strength training. But I know it's no golden ticket. You can do everything "right" and still have a rough go. I wish people who had easy pregnancies realized it is a good deal of luck. I felt so bad about myself my first pregnancy because I was doing everything right and still felt awful.

I only have ONE data point for you: I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant and continued working out through second tri, and it was mostly a very easy pregnancy. But yeah. I have no idea.

Ha- no! I was in no way all that healthy. I would say my pregnancy save Charlie horses was pretty awesome.

The only thing it has helped for me is that middle of the afternoon "all I want to do is collapse and take a nap" feeling
If I work out instead of laying down I feel like I have more energy to get through the rest of the day
It hasn't helped my nausea at all. I didn't work out during my first tri of my first pregnancy at all but was in decent shape from running heading into it. We've since purchased a peloton, so this pregnancy I've been able to work out a bit on my time during the first tri
My nausea is unchanged.