heartrate, shmartrate?

Well, it looks like soccer and my second job may be joining caffeine, alcohol, and sushi on the banned list. Even before I started working last night, my HR from walking around and talking escalated to 120 BPM. I wore the monitor while I worked and found it beeping at me several times, when my HR exceeded 143 (10% above the target rate). I quickly lowered it by walking and taking deep breaths and generally trying to will myself relaxed and calm, so I swear it wasn't over 130 for more than 8 minutes out of the whole hour. But I know for certain now that when I play soccer my HR is way over 130.

I played soccer last Monday, at 4DPIUI. I tried to take it easy, but now that I'm a little more familiar with my heart rate I know it was well over 130, and it likely stayed there for at least 25 minutes or so during the course of the game. Damn.

I visited Dr. Google, but didn't find any information. All I did find was the effect of maternal health and habits on fetal heart rate. Not what I needed. From experience, I know women can become pregnant and continue to be pregnant while participating in a soccer league. My mother played when she was pregnant with my youngest 3 siblings. Countless teammates have resigned at the end of a season, explaining "surprise, I'm pregnant" and that they didn't want to play into their second trimester. I've heard from teammates that they were given the go-ahead by their doctors to continue playing as long as they felt comfortable doing so (weight and balance-wise). The concern always seemed to focus on protecting the fetus from being struck- elbow, ball, foot- all could potentially cause harm, but apparently a 1st-trimester fetus is well protected and not in danger from the usual soccer blows. I never heard anyone mention maternal heart rate.
Until nurse #3 at the RE's office mentioned in passing that during the whole process of TTC, I should never allow my HR to exceed 130BPM. She didn't know there was a way around the "partner MUST drop off sperm" rule. Should I believe her about the HR advice? It's hard to know whom to trust. I guess "better safe than sorry," but I don't want to give up my #1 hobby unnecessarily. I need a second, and possibly a third, opinion.

Has anyone else be advised to keep their heart rate below some threshold while TTC?

learning my beat

One of the nurses told me a few weeks ago that when TTC, I should not allow my heart rate to exceed 130 beats per minute. I've tried to measure my HR on the equipment at my gym, but I don't trust the results. Half the time, I get an error message because I'm not gripping the sensors properly. The rest of the time, my HR seems to jump from 165 one minute to 34 the next. I don't know what my resting rate is, so how will I know what 130 BPM feels like? My second job involves a bit of running, and I love to play soccer, but I don't know what my HR is during those activities. Have I been sabotaging my TTC efforts?

So, I bought a heart rate monitor. As I sit here typing, I am back and forth between 78 and 84 BPM. I am working at the 2nd job tonight and plan to wear the HRM there too. I'm only working an hour, so if it turns out to be uncomfortable or too bulky I won't be inconvenienced for long. I'm dreading it, though, because what if my slow-jog HR is over 130? Ignorance was bliss. I played soccer on Monday, and worked on Tuesday night and figured as long as I wasn't out of breath and my heart wasn't pounding in my chest, I must have been OK. I'm afraid I'll learn that I need to give up the second job until after we get pregnant and have a baby, and then a sibling for baby #1. Egad! That could mean years of not doing what I love, which coincidentally earns just enough to pay for most of my extra insurance coverage. And no playing soccer! Wow... aside from when I had knee surgery in my early 20's, I've played continuously for almost 34 years. I can't bring myself to run unless I'm chasing a soccer ball, or chasing kids chasing a soccer ball. My fitness level will likely suffer. Not that it wouldn't be worth it, mind you. I guess I could to the gym more often and just take it slow and easy.

I hope I don't have to add soccer to the list of things I've given up in pursuit of parenthood.