riding and pregnancy

In message <[email hidden]>, zeldabee <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I'm hoping to hear from people who have some experience with riding during a pregnancy, either
women with direct experience, or their Significant Others. I'm especially curious as to whether
women have had to adjust their riding styles, or preferred a more upright posture or not. (I ride
both a touring/road bike and a mountain/utility bike.)

If you look at uk.rec.cycling in google groups you'll find a load of recent posts from Myra van
Inwegen and Becka Currant.
--
Michael MacClancy

Congratulations! Is this your first?

You'll do well if you do what feels right and don't do what doesn't feel right. You should be fine
for the second trimester at least. There was a famous racer back in the eighties who rode her bike
to the hospital to deliver her baby. My wife rode right up until the last week of her pregnancy
with our first child (our second is due this Aug). She rode a recumbent with a lay back position.
She is conviced the recumbent is the way to go for riding later in the pregnancy. She rode pretty
mellow with distances of less than 12 miles. I would think as time goes on you'll need to get more
and more upright.

"zeldabee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

First off, let me say that I have spoken to my OB about the subject, and while she didn't really
know much about cycling per se, she just told me not to "race", which I took to mean basically not
to overdo it.

I basically intend to commute, as is my habit (~10 miles each way, the

only

Quoted message said:

hill being a bridge), and to go on whatever other recreational/utility rides that seem appropriate
as time goes by. I'll lay off the major

touring

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(which I haven't done since last fall anyway) until after the pregnancy.

I should probably add that I'm 40 years old, somewhat overweight but in reasonably good shape, and
12 weeks pregnant. I've not been riding all

that

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much recently, since the weather here has sucked, and I've just wimped

out.

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But I've been antsy to get back on the bike, in whatever capacity I can.

I'm hoping to hear from people who have some experience with riding

during

Quoted message said:

a pregnancy, either women with direct experience, or their Significant Others. I'm especially
curious as to whether women have had to adjust

their

Quoted message said:

riding styles, or preferred a more upright posture or not. (I ride both a touring/road bike and a
mountain/utility bike.)

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z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m newsreader.comnewsreader.comOpen ↗

If you post over on uk.rec.cycling, there's a couple of the girls who are preggers and have been
cycling throughout pregnancy - they may be able to give you some tips.

Best of luck on your pregnancy.

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!

Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~

"zeldabee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm hoping to hear from people who have some experience with riding during a pregnancy, either
women with direct experience, or their Significant Others. I'm especially curious as to whether
women have had to adjust their riding styles, or preferred a more upright posture or not. (I ride
both a touring/road bike and a mountain/utility bike.)

Congratulations! I think it's a really good idea to "train" for a pregnancy. My wife took that
approach for both of ours and felt it really helped, especially with the last couple of months
and the deliveries. She was also around 40 for her second (35 for first), and while her OB didn't
really have much to say on the subject, and there weren't any complications to speak of, it
seemed like a good idea to approach the whole thing as if training for an athletic event. She
pretty much exclusively rode indoors on a trainer, and alternated between that and a rowing
machine. I don't think there's really any problem with riding outdoors either. She rode right up
to the day of delivery.

To my knowledge, no one has ever become pregnant while riding a bicycle.

Steve McDonald

In article <[email hidden]>, Steve McDonald

Quoted message said:

To my knowledge, no one has ever become pregnant while riding a bicycle.

Steve McDonald

I believe it's not that easy even on a motorcycle. Cars are the ticket here.

Steve McDonald said:

To my knowledge, no one has ever become pregnant while riding a bicycle.

Vicki Hearne writes of horsemanship (_Bandit: Dossier of a Dangerous Dog_)

``I was once involved in a panel discussion at which the idea was voiced and elaborated that riding
horses was a good way for girls to prepare for marriage because it gave them practice controlling
something powerful and dangerous between their legs. I thought, and at enormous risk of
self-exposure said, that controlling something powerful and dangerous between my legs didn't
characterize either marriage or horsemanship as I had experienced them...There are some differences
between husbands and horses that I thought worthy of consideration, including the fact that in the
case of husbands direct mutual genital contact is to the point, whereas it interferes with
horsemanship. I don't doubt that it is possible, only that it is horsemanship.''
--
Ron Hardin [email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

(Steve McDonald) said:

To my knowledge, no one has ever become pregnant while riding a bicycle.

Steve McDonald
__________________________________

I believe it's not that easy even on a motorcycle. Cars are the ticket here.

Leonard Migliore
_______________________________

But, conceivably, it could occur on a tricycle.

Whoa. Deja vu. I saw this exact same thread when I googled the bike groups on the subject...

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z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m newsreader.comnewsreader.comOpen ↗

From the reports I have heard, individual women react very differently to pregnancy. Some women can
and do remain active throughout their pregnancy while other women are nearly incapacitated by it.

My mother tells me that she had no real difficulty during pregnancy. She also tells me that she was
out on a tractor doing some sort of farm work the day before I was born. I rather wonder at what she
was doing the day before that. I suppose some questions are best left unasked.

Now my sister in law is pregnant and she is an active girl, but she has had to curtail her
activities because of the pregnancy. I guess she just does not feel that well. Again, I have not
asked for explicit physiological detail on this one. I figure if she wants me to know, she will
volunteer the information.

So as long as it feels ok you can probably do it as long as you

1) Don't get dehydrated.
2) Don't bonk.
3) Don't get your heart rate up too high. No more intervals or time trials.
4) No centuries.

I think moderately paced rides for moderate distances would be fine as long as you feel ok and the
pregnancy is a low risk one.

You might be able to get away with doing the above, but they all put strains on your system. I think
right now is a good time to avoid that.

Peter Cole said:

"zeldabee" <[email hidden]> wrote...

Quoted message said:

I'm hoping to hear from people who have some experience with riding during a pregnancy, either
women with direct experience, or their Significant Others. [...]

Congratulations! I think it's a really good idea to "train" for a pregnancy. My wife took that
approach for both of ours and felt it really helped, especially with the last couple of months and
the deliveries. She was also around 40 for her second (35 for first), and while her OB didn't
really have much to say on the subject, and there weren't any complications to speak of, it seemed
like a good idea to approach the whole thing as if training for an athletic event.

I don't know if I feel quite so gung-ho...I just enjoy cycling, and it's a great way to get around
the city. I do think that staying in decent physical shape while pregnant is a Good Thing, though.

Quoted message said:

She pretty much exclusively rode indoors on a trainer, and alternated between that and a rowing
machine. I don't think there's really any problem with riding outdoors either. She rode right up
to the day of delivery.

That I don't know about...I have a feeling that I'm going to be as big as a house...I'd already put
on some weight just prior to becoming pregnant, since I'd really slacked off on the bike riding in
the cold weather this winter, so I'm overweight to start off, and to lose weight (or even to fail to
gain weight) while pregnant is generally Frowned Upon, so it's only going to go up from here. I
would like to manage it somewhat, however.

Besides, I really hate being sedentary. Morning sickness and fatigue haven't helped matters much,
but hopefully that will lift soon.

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one of the six billion said:

Congratulations! Is this your first?

Thanks, and yes.

Quoted message said:

You'll do well if you do what feels right and don't do what doesn't feel right. You should be fine
for the second trimester at least. There was a famous racer back in the eighties who rode her bike
to the hospital to deliver her baby.

I'm reasonably sure that won't be me. :o)

Quoted message said:

My wife rode right up until the last week of her pregnancy with our first child (our second is due
this Aug). She rode a recumbent with a lay back position. She is conviced the recumbent is the way
to go for riding later in the pregnancy.

I don't think I want to make the investment in a 'bent, though I can see how it could be useful.

Quoted message said:

She rode pretty mellow with distances of less than 12 miles. I would think as time goes on you'll
need to get more and more upright.

That's what I figure. I'd also think that balance will become an issue, at some point. That,
and suitable bike clothing. It doesn't have to be bike clothing, per se, but wicking fabric
would be helpful.

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z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m newsreader.comnewsreader.comOpen ↗

(wafflycathcsdirtycatlitter) said:

If you post over on uk.rec.cycling, there's a couple of the girls who are preggers and have been
cycling throughout pregnancy - they may be able to give you some tips.

Thanks...I'll wander over there and have a look.

Quoted message said:

Best of luck on your pregnancy.

Thanks!

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z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m newsreader.comnewsreader.comOpen ↗

Michael MacClancy said:

zeldabee <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I'm hoping to hear from people who have some experience with riding during a pregnancy, [...]

If you look at uk.rec.cycling in google groups you'll find a load of recent posts from Myra van
Inwegen and Becka Currant.

I had a quick look last night, and saw some posts from last summer in that group, but nothing more
recent. I'll look again, for those posters specifically. Thanks.

--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m newsreader.comnewsreader.comOpen ↗

"zeldabee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

She pretty much exclusively rode indoors on a trainer, and alternated between that and a rowing
machine. I don't think there's really any problem with riding outdoors either. She rode right up
to the day of delivery.

That I don't know about...I have a feeling that I'm going to be as big as a house...I'd already
put on some weight just prior to becoming pregnant, since I'd really slacked off on the bike
riding in the cold weather this winter, so I'm overweight to start off, and to lose weight (or
even to fail to gain weight) while pregnant is generally Frowned Upon, so it's only going to go up
from here. I would like to manage it somewhat, however.

The physical bulk of pregnancy is a problem. My wife had to give up rowing and weight lifting at
around the 5-6 month mark because it was just too awkward. She used a platform to mount & dismount
from a bike on a wind trainer, and with that system was able to ride indoors until the last day. She
got similar negative feedback from her OB when she announced early on that a primary goal was to
limit weight gain, but OB's tend to be ultra-conservative (and becoming more so). Her first turned
out to be a long and arduous labor, in that the baby was pretty big, and things went slowly.
Afterward, both she and the OB (grudgingly) admitted that it was probably only her physical
conditioning that allowed (narrowly) a natural rather than c-section. Besides the weight gain and
actual delivery issues, I think that some sort of reasonable exercise during the term can help with
secondary issues like blood pressure and circulation, it helps with the post-event recovery as well
if you can keep things up after the birth.

(Pbwalther) said:

From the reports I have heard, individual women react very differently to pregnancy. Some
women can and do remain active throughout their pregnancy while other women are nearly
incapacitated by it.

[...]

Quoted message said:

So as long as it feels ok you can probably do it as long as you

1) Don't get dehydrated.
2) Don't bonk.
3) Don't get your heart rate up too high. No more intervals or time trials.
4) No centuries.

Common sensical things...I have no intention of doing any centuries while I'm pregnant...which
basically means several trips I had planned for this year are off. Oh, well. :o)

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Peter Cole said:

"zeldabee" <[email hidden]> wrote...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That I don't know about...I have a feeling that I'm going to be as big as a house...I'd already
put on some weight just prior to becoming pregnant, [...]

The physical bulk of pregnancy is a problem. My wife had to give up rowing and weight lifting at
around the 5-6 month mark because it was just too awkward. She used a platform to mount & dismount
from a bike on a wind trainer, and with that system was able to ride indoors until the last day.

I hope that's not the case with me, trainers bore me silly. I'd have to give up and go for swimming
or something once that happens.

Quoted message said:

She got similar negative feedback from her OB when she announced early on that a primary goal was
to limit weight gain, but OB's tend to be ultra-conservative (and becoming more so).

Oddly enough, my OB agrees that I should try to limit my weight gain, but her suggestions along
those lines seem to be "just avoid salt and sugar, and don't eat too much starch" which is fine, but
I don't think it'll be enough. (My diet right now consists of foods that won't make me hurl, and
that tends to be rather carby stuff.)

Quoted message said:

Her first turned out to be a long and arduous labor, in that the baby was pretty big, and things
went slowly.

That's one problem with excess weight in the mother, apparently...mother gets bigger, but so does
the baby. Certainly avoiding low birth weight is a good idea, but one doesn't want to go
overboard...

Quoted message said:

Afterward, both she and the OB (grudgingly) admitted that it was probably only her physical
conditioning that allowed (narrowly) a natural rather than c-section. Besides the weight gain and
actual delivery issues, I think that some sort of reasonable exercise during the term can help
with secondary issues like blood pressure and circulation, it helps with the post-event recovery
as well if you can keep things up after the birth.

It must--it seems like common sense. Another secondary issue for me is depression. Excersize has
always helped to keep it at bay. Due to some other, unbelievably nasty and stressful life things
happening right now, I really need it.

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(wafflycathcsdirtycatlitter) said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2) Don't bonk.

Over here in Old Blighty, apart from the cycling meaning of "to bonk", the fact that you are
pregnant at all means you've had at least one bonk, as in "to bonk" - to well, ahem, to engage in
the activity that can result in pregnancy
🙂

Yes, I'm familiar with this disparity, and I try to avoid using the term in "mixed" company.

Quoted message said:

p.s enjoy the pregancy 🙂

Oh, I mean to. :o)

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Steve McDonald <[email hidden]> wrote:

: To my knowledge, no one has ever become pregnant while riding a bicycle.

However, the act of becoming pregnant is like riding a bicycle, isn't it?

--
'Any variable chosen as a monetary policy target immediately starts to behave differently.'

- Goodhart's Law

zeldabee <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

I can't directly comment, because I did water aerobics while pregnant and also post-partum, which
worked very well for me.

But you also might want to ask on misc.kids.pregnancy, a very active and fun newsgroup. And we'd
welcome you over on misc.kids.moderated too.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky ([email hidden]) organizer of the misc.kids t-shirt effort 1995 former
moderator, misc.kids.moderated