Just had a baby - when did you get back on the bike?

[ChickWithBrains]

Hi all!

Sophie, my firstborn daughter, was born on Jan 16 and I'm totally in love. I'm also totally recovering from some significant stitching adventures courtesy of my fabulous OB/GYN after some as-bad-as-it-gets second degree perineal tearing. (Sorry to be so graphic, folks!) Kegels only started to feel normal again, and long walks are still something I haven't felt up to, both from some fatigue "down there" after very long bouts of standing or picking up the babe frequently whilst standing... I lost a lot of blood in the process and am only starting to feel like myself again in that regard. And I'm dying to get on the bike.

Anyone else have a story like this? How long before you ventured on the bike, and when did it feel "normal" again (if at all)? I'm a tri mama, and while I know this season is going to be light if populated at all by any events, I'd like to hear how this all panned out for the other mamas out there.

Be well, keep pedaling!
-CWB

[limewave]

I had a very similar situation as you. I think I waited 6-8 weeks before getting on a bike. I started walking for exercise after a week (when I stopped bleeding). By 4 weeks I was jogging. And then gradually added cycling. Of course, I took everything very slowly and eased back into the routine.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Just take it slowly and listen to your body, you'll be back cycling like your old self before you know it.

[ttaylor508]

First of all, congratulations! Your daughter was born 1 day after my birthday (yah, another Capricorn).

With my first child, I was back on my indoor bike after about 2 weeks, but I took it very easy. If you are still sore at all or not quite feeling yourself, I would wait and certainly if you are not up to walking, I wouldn't start riding yet. If you have a stroller, I would start out with some short walks with baby until you get your energy back.

As for feeling like yourself again, I don't know that you ever will get back to that sense of yourself before baby. Once you have had a child, everything changes and you will find a new sense of self and what is normal. Enjoy these first few months with your daughter, take it easy and listen to your body.

[Miranda]

Congrats on the new addition! I know it's hard, but don't over do it. The waiting and the way you are now will not be forever. Though it may seem like it at times.

Oh, I have an army's worth of doctors stitching in me from having the big babies. And repair surgeries from what big babies did later. Also, my blood loss was so bad with kid #1 I about died but luckily got a blood transfusion. My gyno wasn't too thrilled about me having a second, but that was way easier.

On the blood loss and the bike... be careful being anemic. You need your red blood cells to carry oxygen to help your muscle work. If you are trying to make up for that, plus ask what ones you do have to work hard... well, that's a lot.

Go with whatever the doc feels is ok of course. But, just remember to cut yourself some slack on that one--besides just the usual post baby getting back into shape you hear peeps talk about. That is a complication not all deliveries have... and thus should be taken into recovery consideration.

Best wishes with the babe and the bike.

[Biciclista]

Listen to your body. If it still hurts inside when you get on a bike, get off the bike. We all heal differently, and it's different with each pregnancy. Take your time. There's no rush, or there shouldn't be. you have a lot of healing to do.

[crazycanuck]

Just wanted to say Congrats on the birth of your little one!

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi ChickWithBrains

Big congratulations on the birth of your little Sophie, pretty name and I believe it means 'wisdom'.

Hope you soon repair in the important places!

Sorry, too long ago to remember anything like that (thankfully).

Clock

[Miranda]

I know I already put some chat in this thread on healing overall, but just some other food for thought on stitches and "how long to feel normal down there" as you say...

OK, not for this to sound scary, but one of my stitching deals it was months before some scar tissue got worked out. My gyno told me that in my situaiton it could take up to a year for the scar tissue to soften. One of my GFs had some scar tissue issues that she ended up getting steroid injections. I know that sounds brutual, but it made her's resolve.

I post this because if you have any issues post op after the doc says "you're ok, you are healed enough you won't tear my stitches work etc.... do whatever you what", AND your body is saying "hello! I don't feel this way"... the scar tissue could be it.

Just something to keep in mind if you have issues on the bike and start thinking it's your saddle, shorts, etc. and start throwing those out. It just might be your body.

[xeney]

I had a similarly brutal birth experience. At two months out I was still having a lot of pain and some bleeding, and as the previous poster noted scar tissue still causes some minor issues.

But I was fine back on the bike at about three months and I've never had any problems with cycling related to child birth. I definitely took it easy at first but hasn't been an issue. Good luck!

[Jiffer]

About 9 years later. Oh yeah. I didn't really ride a bike before that, though!