Pregnancy/Delivery Recovery

[Irulan]

I personally still would never ride outdoors while in my last trimester. Last year a route I have traveled on a million times a dog took me down. I was only going about 15mph and this little dog who got loose went straight at me under my wheel I had no place to go but down on the concrete HARD! It's way to unpredictable out there and not worth the risk one bit IMO.
I was cycling with 5 others the dog took out one other person all the people there could not have helped me one bit it all happens too fast. Maybe you've never crashed to know how quickly it all happens and how much it hurts!!!!!

To all other pregnant mama's thinking of cycling outdoors I would take all risks involved cars,dogs, and wonder if it's worth it????

there are plenty of safer places to ride: paved cycle trails, dedicated bike paths, rail trails, forest roads, non traffic situations, easy singletrack - use your imagination. A fall will most likely hurt you worst than a fetus.

On the first round of pregnancy cycling on another board about three months ago, I found this information in an Australian medical journal

Medical experts who took part in the National Forum on Pregnancy and Sport advised that damage to the womb of the kind that could injure an unborn child is usually associated with forces equivalent to those occurring in a car accident. All medical experts agreed that falls and direct contact of the kinds that occur during contact sports were unlikely to cause damage to the womb or the unborn child. http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/...pub/pisover.asp

irulan

[limewave]

Here is another article regarding cycling while pregnant.

Quote:
"If you do happen to fall, the baby is well protected by the amniotic fluid. Normally, the baby won't be hurt unless the injury to the mother is severe."

http://bicycling.about.com/od/safety/l/aa091797.htm

[Grog]

Actually the baby will probably get much more hurt from a fall if sitting on a baby seat behind you than if inside your uterus!

[MightyMitre]

I personally still would never ride outdoors while in my last trimester.....
To all other pregnant mama's thinking of cycling outdoors I would take all risks involved cars,dogs, and wonder if it's worth it????

I can see where you're coming from Kimred, but if a quick bike ride stops mama-to-be going stirr crazy and getting tense isn't it worth the calculated risk?
I would have thought activities like driving would be just as dangerous, increased speed, big metal box etc?

[Kimred]

ACOG guidelines say to avoid any exercise during the third trimester that can cause even mild abdominal trauma. This certainly includes falling off your bike. Instead, consider pedaling indoors on a resistance trainer, or take up walking during those last few weeks. Even a minor fall could cause separation of the placenta, so if you do crash--especially in the last 20 weeks--get checked by your doctor immediately.

I'v found several websites advising not to cycle outdoors some even advise it as early as the second trimester. Other factors are being around exhaust. Do a quick google.

Also I am not big on trusting studies they do one study it says this, another study says that and cycling outdoors can be very unpredictable to base a study on all factors and conditions. I've been cycling way too long to realize that.

FOR ME I would never take the risk. And I also think it's this boards responsibilty to let others know there are risks and riding outdoors during pregnancy is risky.


There's just to many other safer options to keep fit during this time. Better safe than sorry. That's also another reason I have a bike trailer rather than a bike seat.

[slinkedog]

As one who has had both preterm labor and a miscarriage, I was very cautious about the exercise I chose to do during my last pregnancy. However, that was my decision based on my body's reactions and my past experiences. My doctor was fine with me exercising. He recommended that I continue to do my walking and low impact aerobics as long as I felt good and my heart rate didn't get too high. (I didn't take up cycling until after I had my last child.) His advice was always to listen to my body and call him if I had any questions or concerns. And I should say that I was concerned about another miscarriage or preterm labor, but I also didn't want to get injured while I was pregnant because being pregnant is enough stress on my poor old body!!

I guess my decision for me is to always take the safest option when someone else's life hangs in the balance. Everyone has to make their own choice and do what they feel peaceful about. Here's to comfortable pregnancies and healthy babies!!

[Irulan]

Get educated, make choices, go with your personal comfort zone. My docs were very supportive of me listening to my body and doing what I needed to do, and that includedalpine skiing and riding a bike until my knees hit my belly.


as for the old acog heart rate thing, that's being questioned as it applies to non atheletes not atheletes, here's the link again:
http://www.insidetri.com/train/bike/...es/1486.0.html

here are links to lots of discussion from women who have felt comfortable cycling throughout their pregnancy, thier choice, might not be right for everyone.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=127916

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=102361

[limewave]

Of course there are risks with everything. Maybe I'm a clutz, but I've tripped walking a lot more times than I have fallen off my road bike. And I agree, I think driving is more risky than riding.

There's also tons of articles/studies supporting road cycling and jogging for the duration of the entire pregnancy. It helps prevent pre-term labor, miscarriage, prepares your muscles for delivery, and helps prevent pre/post-partum depression.

I recommend finding an OB/GYN that works out. I was fortunate enough to find one that runs marathons. She keeps up on all the latest studies regarding exercise and pregnancy because it's important to her. She also has a better understanding of my fitness level and what I am healthfully capable of during pregnancy. She's been wonderful.