Pregnant!

[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.

[lph]

I'm surprised at your dr, I think the general consensus these days is stay active, keep doing anything you're proficient at but don't take up new sports, don't exhaust yourself and don't overheat. I rode my bike virtually up to delivery as it was more comfortable than walking, and rock climbed 7 months pregnant, gently, on a top-rope.

Be careful with your joints and have fun

[colby]

A friend of mine had too much movement in her hips and had to watch what she did, but I think in most cases it's a matter of what you normally do and listening to your body. I WOULD ask your normal doctor because obviously you trust them much more. Arguably it is kind of like asking someone until you get the right answer but at least you could have the conversation with your normal doctor and feel more comfortable asking questions (like "why?").

TE has a few Sheila Moon jerseys that are specifically maternity sized:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...cialty_02.html

I thought Terry had maternity shorts, but I can't seem to find them on their site.

They aren't necessarily inexpensive, though. Larger sizes might work, there's a lot of plus sized cycling gear out there, too (some of which is on sale):

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...cialty_03.html

Sierra Trading Post might have some plus/larger sized cycling gear that's relatively inexpensive. REI/REI outlet are good ideas too.

[Melalvai]

One of the things I like about forums is that you can ask one question and you get a variety of answers, from "I don't know" to snarky comments to jokes to bare bones "yes" or "no" to informed answers. The best answers are those that provide information. Then you can make up your own mind which may or may not agree with the conclusion the responder came to.

I treat doctors the same way. Their job is to provide me with information, not answers. I take their information and come to my own decision.

Some doctors respond to this approach more favorably than others. Residents and new doctors respond the best. They are used to being beat down and questioned. They like me because I'm not trying to convince them of anything, I just want information.

This is my long winded way of saying that I find it not only acceptable, but recommended, to seek information from multiple doctors, especially when one doctor gives you an answer that doesn't seem right. At the very least I'd want to know why she thinks you shouldn't bike. Maybe she knew someone who lost a pregnancy due to a bad bike wreck and it left her scared. That doesn't mean the same thing would happen to you, an accomplished (I presume?) cyclist.

[Lanterne Rouge]

Thanks, all. I did ask my fill-in doc why she thinks I shouldn't ride at all from the moment the pregnancy begins, and she said it's for safety, it's a matter of balance, and I'll probably be too uncomfortable to want to do it anyway. I understand that at 8 1/2 months along, I'm probably not going to want to train for a century ride (heck, I don't do that now!), but I figured I'd still want to ride for at least the first half of my pregnancy. I ride 30-40 miles most of the time, and I try and get in at least one or two good rides a week. I can't imagine not doing that for 9 months. I'm guessing that Dr. Fill-In doesn't ride a bike and, while very kind, probably doesn't understand why I'd like to ride while I still can, instead of just switching my exercise regimen to maternity water ballet classes at the gym.

I figure that I'll call my friend's sister, who is an OB in a different state, and chat with her about it, and also ask my general doctor, who I know is a cyclist because he has pictures of himself riding in the office. Between gathering various opinions, I'll at least be able to get a better perspective on what other docs have to say about it.