Pregnant!

[ASammy1]

OMG! Thank you so much for starting this thread. I realize that it's a year old, but lots of good info. I found out on Monday that I'm expecting and have my first Dr appt on Friday. It's good to hear that all of you ladies continued to ride throughout your pregnancies. It gives me hope that I will be able to do this as well! THANK YOU!

[shootingstar]

Wow, 2 mothers-to-be-cyclists at this time. Congrats.

Enjoy the peace and freedom right now.... Wishing you good health and safe pregnancy!

[Catrin]

Congratulations ASammy! I do hope things went well for the original poster who started this thread.

[ASammy1]

Thanks for the well wishes Shootingstar and Catrin. It's still REALLY early, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that all is well.

[Melalvai]

OP & baby are doing fine. I don't think she's bicycled at all since pregnancy...or slept much either! He's nearly 6 months old. I know she's looking forward to a warm weather bike ride.

[ASammy1]

Well, I had bloodwork done on last Friday and my numbers indicate that this will not be a viable pregnancy... I had some more bloodwork done on Monday to confirm these results. I haven't received those results yet, but I know in my heart what they will be

Again, thanks for the well wishes and I'm sorry to the OP for the thread hi-jack...

[Crankin]

I'm sorry. How are you doing?

[kmhurchla]

ASammy1, whether you're still reading this or not, I am sorry and hope that you're well. I'll resurrect this string to say it's important to talk about riding after a pregnancy loss though understandably more uncomfortable to discuss. I've experienced several miscarriages in the past year and found cycling to be as therapeutic after the loss of pregnancy, as before or during, if not more so.

I rode through my first trimester once, and at the time found some good chatter online about riding while pregnant, and love this post for its encouragement and for specific advise on how to adjust your ride. Getting back in the saddle so to say after weeks off to heal a few times has helped me physically, mentally and emotionally and I'm so thankful that I'd found my love for cycling before this experience. I finished a 150 mile ride for MS this past weekend, and was so proud of myself (and relieved!) after anxiety over whether I was up to the task after time off training this summer. There's nothing like that feeling to get up and keep moving forward.

I hope and look forward to a chance to ride pregnant again, equipped with my new heart monitor for those hills that kick my butt! I think, as everyone has said here, that the most important thing is to listen to your body. Don't push yourself and don't feel guilty if you can't do what you'd like. It takes time, and riding is hard no matter what's going on with your body, so cut yourself some slack.

[TreeSaw]

Congratulations ladies! I too continued to cycle (mountain bike) throughout my pregnancy. I rode my local trails until I was about 7 months and then came the snow (I live in Upstate NY and my daughter was due 1/26 but arrived on 2/6) so I hit the trainer and continued to spin for the rest of my days. Listen to your body and do what feels right for you. I even managed to race when I was 12 weeks pregnant and felt great all throughout my pregnancy.

[Melalvai]

Just thought I'd post another update on fanatizzare & baby, because she mentioned biking with the baby in a trailer. Her mother of course completely wigged out! I explained that those trailers are so much safer than, say, putting a baby in a car and then driving on the interstate. Don't know if I helped much, probably not. I was just glad to hear that she's biking again.

[ABeezles]

Hey! Just found this thread kicking about. I am 11 weeks preg and still riding about 4 times/6hrs a week. I'm totally exhausted, but happy when i've gotten out! running a couple of times a week too.
This is down from racing Elite level nationally and 15+ hours/week training. I actually completed a MTB marathon at 6 weeks (unknowing) and raced HARD for a podium. Cripies.
Fingers crossed for good scans...
Anyone else in this predicament?

[Grog]

Yes, I am in the same 'condition'... albeit a bit further ahead, at 22 weeks.

Good for you for still being able to ride that much! I was totally wiped out during my first trimester and hardly managed my commute to work (15 miles round trip)... then nothing at all for a few weeks. I'm back to riding once or twice a week, and walking a whole lot, but that's about it, sadly.

Enjoy! and keep listening to your body. Good luck!

[schwartzdeborah]

it actually depends on your pregnancy. you might want to ask your obgyne as women has differences in terms of pregnancy. some are delicate, some aren't.

[ABeezles]

How's it going!? Stumbled upon this again trawling through the forums (not really an avid poster :P ) and just posting to see if anyone else is preggo and riding still? Have had a bad run of illness (just head coldy thigs) and beginning to get quite fatigued again (nearing 30wks) but riding around 4 times a week still, but only 4-5hours and no running now. I kinda lost the desire to run when I could only manage 20min without a wee stop! Now I will walk, and often run a minute or two every five minutes, but it's not really running!

[Lanterne Rouge]

I'm so glad I found this thread! We're trying to get pregnant and the first question I asked the doc was how long I could keep riding while pregnant. She said to stop as soon as I found out and that I would be limited to only using my trainer. This seemed extreme to me.

She was only my doc for one visit since my regular OB was booked, so I think I'm going to ask my usual doc what he thinks. (Is that wrong-- to keep re-asking the question in different ways to different sources until I get the desired response? Ha!) I ride a hybrid, and I wouldn't be using clipless pedals, I generally only ride bike paths and avoid busy streets, and I'm riding for fun and not racing (10-20 mph).... So, I feel like my risks are under control. I don't want to stop living when I get pregnant. At the same time, I don't want to do anything to endanger the baby.

I'm encouraged to read about folks that have continued riding well into their pregnancies. Did most people find that their doctors were encouraging of riding, or were they like the lady that I went to that gasped at the thought of being on a bike while a bun is in the oven? Any additional up-to-date comments are appreciated!

PS-- Any tips on where to find inexpensive maternity cycling clothes? I'm going to check out REI for larger sizes generally.