Biking and Pregnancy

[mountainpuddles]

I am 6 weeks pregnant and wanted to know if anyone still rides while pregnant? How far? Intensity? My Dr. said I can exercise!!!

Becky

[Pedal Wench]

One of my club members and I went for a ride when she was 9 months pregnant. She had to use a rigid mtb to have room for her belly, and we only went about 10 miles, but she was riding all the time, just monitoring her heart rate and making sure she didn't get overheated.

Baby is two months old and perfectly healthy.

[crazycanuck]

I think there are a couple of posts in the health section that might be able to help you I think xeney & snowtulip may be able to help?

I'd also do a search and see what cool info comes up.

c

[velogirl]

congratulations, Becky! how exciting for you. most women can continue their current level of exercise while they're pregnant. that means, if you're currently riding a certain duration you can most likely continue to do so.

there are some common exercise restrictions during pregnancy, but your doctor should be able to explain them to you. for example, it's contraindicated to exercise on your back after the first trimester. it's also typically recommended that you don't let your heart rate exceed 140 after the first trimester. but again, your doc should be able to give you solid guidelines.

since you're in the bay area, check the velogirls yahoo group archives. I know many members who've become pregnant and there have been many discussions on the list of this topic.

personally, I know women who have continued to ride and race (yes, race) right through their pregnancy. of course, your results may vary.

again, congratulations!

Lorri

[xeney]

I quit riding in my second trimester due to worries about balance, but I wish I hadn't ... I got my balance back eventually, and I had foot problems in my third trimester that made walking very difficult. I would have been better off if I could have ridden for a bit longer. Still, I made the decision I made for good reasons, because I sure would not have wanted to fall.

At six weeks you should be fine. I was still mountain biking at that point -- my doctor said no mountain biking after the first trimester, but other riding was up to me.

But my advice is to just take it a step at a time. I was healthy and in good shape before pregnancy, and worked out regularly (but very lightly) right up until the day I went into labor, but I still had terrible pain and mobility problems. By my eighth month I couldn't walk a block without crying due to edema and ligament issues in my feet. I was really hard on myself about how immobile I had become, but I really don't think I could have done anything differently.

For instance: my eating was very healthy for the whole nine months, and I actually ate less in the last months because eating was uncomfortable. At the beginning of the third trimester I had only gained about 12 pounds, and my doctors were yelling at me a little bit for not having gained enough weight. A month later, with no change in eating habits, I was being yelled at for gaining too much weight. At the end I was barely able to do anything except drink massive amounts of water, and I was gaining five pounds a week, all fluid retention; my blood pressure was up and I was totally, thoroughly miserable. I was drinking up to 7 liters of water a day, living on fruit and whole grains, and fantasizing about punching the people who told me to drink more water! And avoid sodium!

A lot of pregnancy health is just luck, good or bad, and your body really has an agenda of its own that you can't control. That fact caused me a lot of grief and will be a big factor in decisions regarding any future children -- I loved pregnancy for about five months, but the end of pregnancy was the most physically miserable time of my life, and I'm not sure I ever want to do it again.

Just go easy on yourself mentally, and listen to your body for the physical side of things. You may be one of the people who can exercise right up until your due date, but don't take it as a personal failure if you can't.

PS: baby is three months old day after tomorrow, and I am fine now. I have three pounds left to lose of the 38 I gained. I'm still a size bigger than I was but I can squeeze into my old clothes if I like. Mobility is back, core strength is much better than expected, and the only lingering physical issue is some ligament pain in my left wrist. Which means I can't really ride yet because I can't squeeze a front brake lever reliably, but I expect that to get better in time.

[Brandi]

Awww congrats on your new baby!
Just do what your Dr says and you will be great. I know a lot of women who keep going till the end. But some don't. Your body will let you know! Just take care and keep us updated on how you are doing! And when you have it(him or her).