pregnancy and riding!

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lizzieuk1

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Well we're nearing a time when babies are being talked about-gulp- but i'm not sure how much it'll interfere with riding, just getting my boy going and hoping to BE next season so need some advice on what others have done and how much of a problem being pregnant was when riding. need to plan things right so can avoid being v.heavily so during comp season etc.
any thoughts welcomed.
 
This has been discussed on here before and I remember a wide range of opinions. Many did and many did not.

I could not have imagined riding when I was pregnant as I had a hard time of it and was very uncomfortable. I would also have been worried about saftey in the event of a fall.

I suppose it is greatly going to depend on how you feel and the risks you are willing to take.
 
I rode 'tll I was 6 months gone! Then the bump began to get in the way. I did not compete but hacked out regularly. Just go with what you feel is right for you
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I rode until I was 6 months pregnant then it started to feel uncomfortable. I only hacked out gently. Just listen to your body.
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I think it realy depends on you, and how you feel? This actually came up when I was out for dinner with some friends the other day. We are all in our mid 20s so it is just starting to feature on the horizon! I said that when we have kids, I will keep riding as long as I feel comfortable, but will most likely ride only my boy, as I trust him implicitly! Not that I don't trust my older girl or OH's mare, but do still feel safest on him. I'd probably lay off the jumping after a while as well. I know quite a few people who have had/are having babies, some ride right up to 6 months or more gone, some stop immediately for health reasons or just because they don't feel like it anymore. Don't think I'd do any XC though I have to say, probably because thats when I usually fall off!!
Head girl at the yard was back in the saddle 3 weeks after having hers, and only stopped 8 weeks before!
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You and only you will know what you can and cannot do! depends on how you feel and how you carry

1st one barely rode constant sickness
2nd till about 4mnths as I was soooo huge my lips even put on weight
3rd felt very well and carried tiny so I was out at a local show when I was 5 days over due and done a couple of small clear rounds (on very honest horsie and over quite small jumps) but had no bump to get in the way!

Good luck in whatever you decide!

But all that said and done when my daughter was pregnant I didnt let her even sit on a horse!!
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Think it's as everyone else has said - it really depends on you, your pregnancy and your situation.

I'm still riding at 6months PG, but bump is starting to get in the way a bit. I stopped schooling my lad due to horrendous "morning" sickness, so just lunged and hacked him out, and hacked my mare out. I was going to start his jumping off "properly" this year, but decided to wait until after baby.

My OH has been fine - he has never told me not to ride, and even asked if they did maternity jodphurs! Some of our friends have been a bit surprised that I've continued riding, but I don't consider I've done anything more dangerous than 'normal'. Then again, one friend stopped doing any housework or anything as soon as she found out she was PG!!
 
Ditto, rode until 6 or 7 months the first time when it became too uncomfortable to turn and look over my shoulder in case traffic was coming. Stopped doing any jumping at around 4 months when my instructor found out and nearly had a fit and wouldn't teach me anymore ....but downfall i think is that the longer you ride the less time those perenium (?) muscles have to relax which means you are more likely to have an episiotomy (euurgh! - I had one first time round, but not the 2nd when I didn't ride as long). Riders are notorius for having to have one I am afraid. Mind you, by then you are so numb down there it doesn't hurt
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OOOHH what an interesting post! I'm now nearly 13 weeks pregnant, and am hoping to ride just as long as I can! I did a sponsored ride and XC on Sunday (but still not showing) but am thinking I'll avoid the XC fences for a while as this to is when I am most likely to fall off!

Am hoping to SJ just as long as I can - but only 2.6/2.9ft fences, nothing bigger! But it will keep him ticking over! As one of the posts says, I trust my boy implicitly to and know he'll look after me!

One of the girls up our yard had her baby last week and was riding right up until she had it, only in the school though as mare was to naughty to hack out. She to had to be cut (sorry don't know the correct term for it) but aparently v common with us riders! Great....

I always thought that there was a law to say that you couldn't compete in shows after 12 weeks? but my friend disagreed with this when she said that Mary King went round Badminton at 5 months PG!!! Not sure we'll be doing that......
 
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