Riding while pregnant

[mom2twins]

Hi all, I was surprised a few weeks ago to find out we are expecting another baby in February. We have been super busy ever since with kid activities, family vacation and then a nasty summer cold that made the rounds through the family.

So my plan is to keep riding as much as I can. I know riding is considered a good form of exercise during pregnancy because it's low impact but I didn't ride at all when I was pregnant before so I'm looking for any btdt advise or sugestions.

Tomorrow I'm getting on the bike for the first time in 2 weeks. I'm going with a friend on a 28 mile rails-to-trails ride. I'm a little leary to ride on the road now that the stakes are higher if I get injured.

[crazycanuck]

A while back there were two threads asking this same question....Try a search & see what ye can find. Perhaps bump the thread up?

Lensiuk(is that how you spell her name) just had a baby so you could ask her.

Someone else,I think Xeney is pregnant too so there's another person to ask.

Good luck..

CrazyC-happy with 5 bikes, 1 dog & no kids...

[cinnamon_toast]

I rode until my belly got in the way - at about 25 weeks. I think if you are a good cyclist and are riding cautiously you should be OK. I would stick to paved trails as much as you can... Oh, and first trimester I did everything I normally did including downhill skiing with my doctor's blessing. The doctor said at that stage the only way I'd hurt the baby was if I put myself into the hospital with severe injuries. So I definitely wouldn't worry too much right now.

Congrats on your pregnancy!!

[xeney]

I stopped riding at five months but I probably should have ridden longer. I was riding to work at that point and I had one little bobble at a stop sign where I realized that my balance had shifted, so I got nervous about riding and stopped, but what I've learned at this point (I'm about 35 weeks right now) is that the balance-shifting thing is something you do adjust to. I would have been fine if I had kept it up, I am sure.

Unfortunately that coincided with my getting really busy and the temporary closure of our local bike trail, and my husband was doing a lot of big rides that were too much for me, so I decided to just walk for exercise, instead. Little did I know that the soles of my feet were going to swell so badly that I wouldn't be able to walk much at all ... by the end of my sixth month, I was really missing the bike because walking was so painful, but by that time I had sort of scared myself out of riding. I have lost a lot of mobility and I am really sorry I gave up so easily. (I used to walk 2-5 miles every day just as a matter of course, but since month six I can't walk more than about three blocks without extreme pain. I am either housebound or driving everywhere, and I hate it.)

My doctor was entirely supportive of riding for as long as possible, incidentally. She did veto mountain biking after the first trimester because of the kinds of injuries that tend to go along with mountain biking, and I decided on my own that the road bike wasn't a great option. But until I stupidly gave it up, I really loved riding my townie, which is nice and upright but has skinny enough tires to go reasonably fast. Even now, when I am so unwieldy that I can barely get out of a chair, I miss riding every single day, and I literally have dreams about getting back on my road bike. Limited mobility is my biggest (really, my only) complaint about pregnancy, and if I ever do this again I will work a lot harder to maintain what mobility I can.

[cosc]

I had one summer baby in August and rode up to the time he was born. Besides the balance consideration, I was careful to ride before temps get too hot and kept the rides short.

[Kano]

I had one summer baby in August and rode up to the time he was born. Besides the balance consideration, I was careful to ride before temps get too hot and kept the rides short.

Hee hee --- one summer baby...

You can bet I learned from that summer baby experience too! Took my daughter two summer babies to catch on, but maybe that's cuz her house had air conditioning?

we joked about putting a STOP! sign on their ceiling at that lovely chilly time of year!

Karen in Boise

[cosc]

Hee hee --- one summer baby...

You can bet I learned from that summer baby experience too! Took my daughter two summer babies to catch on, but maybe that's cuz her house had air conditioning?

we joked about putting a STOP! sign on their ceiling at that lovely chilly time of year!

Karen in Boise

Yea, those blizzards can be dangerous in more than one way. My house had no air conditioner so one summer baby was enough.

[Cyclo Kitty]

My son's birthday is October, and he was born in St. Louis, so it was hot when I was starting to get really huge. My doctor let me keep riding bike paths (Katy Trail) and in town (this was 1998, so my Fisher had no suspension). She told me to keep hydrated and fed, and no riding on RR tracks.

Of course, the bigger I got the more I rode across the RR tracks in Sept...but it didn't help (or hurt) and he still was a c-section.

As long as you're sensible, I would expect your doctor to OK your riding.

[xeney]

My house has air conditioning but it is so expensive to run it that we try not to do it very often. I had no idea that feet could swell this much, or that a person could drink six to seven liters of water in a day and still feel dehydrated.

At my doctor's appointment yesterday they confirmed that I have gained as much weight in the last two weeks as I gained in the entire first 33 weeks of my pregnancy. It's all baby and water retention. My blood pressure is fine so they aren't worried about my health; I'm just miserable and uncomfortable.

I have thought about throwing a bike on the trainer but frankly I'm not sure I can climb up that high! And the only shoes I can wear are one pair of my husband's flip-flops, so I guess I don't have anything suitable for pedaling anyway.

[Kano]

Yea, those blizzards can be dangerous in more than one way. My house had no air conditioner so one summer baby was enough.

Yikes, yes, blizzards -- our second was born between a couple of early season snow storms: good thing the hospital was in walking distance!

And that was PLENTY of kids for me!

Karen in Boise

[KnottedYet]

When I was preggers with my summer baby (who came early, so he got to be a late spring baby) I fantasized continously about doing chin-ups and curl-ups and working out in a gym.

I have never, ever, worked out in a gym.

Don't remember when I stopped riding, but it was obviously too soon!

[Kano]

My house has air conditioning but it is so expensive to run it that we try not to do it very often. I had no idea that feet could swell this much, or that a person could drink six to seven liters of water in a day and still feel dehydrated.


Oh Xeny -- yuk! My daughter called 'em "tankles" when her ankles got so swollen, and yup, flip flops was it for her during that time. I thought she might never want another pair!

Good to hear you've only got a few more weeks, hang in there -- If you really don't want to use the AC much, go to the movies whenever you can. We did that lots those last few weeks, and beyond that, I had a temporary best friend: a window fan!

Karen in Boise

[RolliePollie]

My house has air conditioning but it is so expensive to run it that we try not to do it very often. I had no idea that feet could swell this much, or that a person could drink six to seven liters of water in a day and still feel dehydrated.



Xeney, you poor thing! It has been sooooo hot in Sacramento! You must be just miserable. I think you should run your air conditioning even if it is expensive. I live up in the foothills where it's at least a little cooler and I'm dying without air conditioning. And I'm not even pregnant! Hang in there!

[RoadRaven]

Hi all, I was surprised a few weeks ago to find out we are expecting another baby in February.

These babies are the best! Beyond all intentions or expectations or plans, they choose who they want to be with and make damn sure they get there.

Our youngest, number 5, unexpectedly chose us and he is an absolute dream. He'll be 12 this month! Wouldn't be without any of our children.

Congratulations. Enjoy being pregnant again, I loved it.

[nic840]

I think its great to keep riding as long as you listen to your body. You have been through it before and the second time around will hopfully be a dream for you. I think its just key to keep your body temperature low and try not to get anywhere close to overheated. It puts alot of stress on you and the baby.

Like Xeney I had two Sacramento Summer pregnancies... you think I would of learned the first time... Ugh! Yes the "cankles" were ugly! Flip Flops were the only thing I could wear. My best suggestion is to find a pool and just float, its heaven to feel the weightlessness.
Good luck to both of you! I have two friends due in August....Ahhhh the memories!!!!
I am not so sure I am ready to jump on that boat again...just my luck I would get preggo in the summer again!

[amymisk]

I had to give up riding way too soon, I was so short of breath by the time I was 14 weeks I couldn't ride. Took me till 20 weeks to realize maybe I needed my CBC checked (I am an RN). My hemoglobin was only 9.5 (normally around 12-13), so no wonder I couldn't breathe!

Ride as long as you can comfortably ride. Enjoy the pregnancy.