pregnant, riding and people (aka Family)...

I rode through 6 pregnancies - right past my due date, so I'm better qualified to comment than many here. Riding keeps you fit, keeps you sane, and the biggest risks to you and your baby are from sitting doing nothing whilst other people feed you donuts... it's OK, you're eating for two, right?

Compared to the risks of pre-eclampsia and numerous other conditions associated with bored, fat, underactive mothers, the risk of a fall, especially for a competent rider on a steady horse, are negligible. Even a fall is quite unlikely to harm the baby, who is protected inside and often survives the kind of car crash which kills the mother!

It's your body. Don't let other people bully you. Do what YOU feel safe and comfortable doing. You are a much better judge of your body, pregnancy, horse and competence than they are.
 
Tory, don't you dare let this decidedly vitriolic bunch make you feel guilty! So many people who have no idea what it is like to be pregnant are just making a cheap shot at you. You are pregnant not ill and actually there is no reason to stop most riding activities if it is part of your normal life. Do what is right for you, a happy and relaxed mum will have a far better pregnancy than one who is stressed at not being able to ride. If your OH is in support then no one else (including internet do-gooders) has a right to an opinion.
I rode until 34 weeks pregnant with my twins and only stopped then because I felt guilty about being on mat leave. I jumped until 20 weeks (there was a champs on that I was desperate to attend) although I did stop going XC after the last session I had booked pre-pregnancy. I was more concerned about hacking on the roads in the later stages - idiot drivers and hard tarmac - than I was about playing about in a school or on a field.
You will know what is right for you.
 
If its any consolation, I'm 4 months pregnant and still riding. I hack out, school and lunge but am not doing any XC. I may pop the odd small jump in the arena, ie, gymnastic jumping more than anything of height.

My husband and I had a long discussion about riding whilst pregnant and agreed that as long as I was comfortable doing it, and there was no risk to the sprog from the actual riding, we were happy for me to continue. Midwife was on side with this decision. Neither of my horses are saints, but they aren't scatty nutbags and wouldn't do anything that I term dangerous or couldn't handle at this stage. Had I still had my big lad, who was very sharp, I would not be riding him. I will also regularly review how I feel and make an informed choice as I progress.

For me, finding out I was pregnant was a huge shock (BC failure), and I freaked out massively that my life would change and I would have to stop riding. But the reality is, its YOUR choice in conjunction with the father. Only you can quantify the risk to you and the bump, and you will have to deal with any fallout if it goes wrong. We decided we could deal with the fallout in the event of an accident. As for anyone else sticking their nose in, its absolutely none of their business and I am afraid I would tell them to politely shove off. Thankfully, we are long past the days of women going into 'confinement' during pregnancy...

AND....Mary King went round Badders at 6 months pregnant or something, didn't she?? And my old instructor rode until the day she dropped and her horse really was a total nutter, but she knew him so well that she felt the risk of coming off was actually quite low. I also read somewhere that its how you fall not the actual fall which would cause concern for the baby anyway. Hope that helps!!
 
pennyturner said:
I rode through 6 pregnancies - right past my due date, so I'm better qualified to comment than many here. Riding keeps you fit, keeps you sane, and the biggest risks to you and your baby are from sitting doing nothing whilst other people feed you donuts... it's OK, you're eating for two, right?

Compared to the risks of pre-eclampsia and numerous other conditions associated with bored, fat, underactive mothers, the risk of a fall, especially for a competent rider on a steady horse, are negligible. Even a fall is quite unlikely to harm the baby, who is protected inside and often survives the kind of car crash which kills the mother!

It's your body. Don't let other people bully you. Do what YOU feel safe and comfortable doing. You are a much better judge of your body, pregnancy, horse and competence than they are.
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abbijay said:
Tory, don't you dare let this decidedly vitriolic bunch make you feel guilty! So many people who have no idea what it is like to be pregnant are just making a cheap shot at you. You are pregnant not ill and actually there is no reason to stop most riding activities if it is part of your normal life. Do what is right for you, a happy and relaxed mum will have a far better pregnancy than one who is stressed at not being able to ride. If your OH is in support then no one else (including internet do-gooders) has a right to an opinion.
I rode until 34 weeks pregnant with my twins and only stopped then because I felt guilty about being on mat leave. I jumped until 20 weeks (there was a champs on that I was desperate to attend) although I did stop going XC after the last session I had booked pre-pregnancy. I was more concerned about hacking on the roads in the later stages - idiot drivers and hard tarmac - than I was about playing about in a school or on a field.
You will know what is right for you.
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Here here!!!
 
I agree that it is your body and you have to trust your self. some people are very quick to judge, and you could not move for 9 months and have a problem with pregnancy/ baby. I am currently overdue with my first baby. I laughed at how many times people were shocked (non-horsey mind you) that I was even still looking after my horses, let alone riding. I was still being paid to do my friends horses down the road last week.

while batting off a fly from his belly, while I was about to put sun creme on his white socks, my horse actually kicked me in the knee at about 7 months pregnant. Bruised knee, but all OK: but just shows how all sorts of little accidents can happen. there are risks in everyday life.

However: risks can be reduced. For example: I drive, I could be in a crash, but I don''t drive a race car around a track- that is higher risk. Similarly, I rode until 7 months (and only stopped because horse was unwell and last month of pregnancy my pelvis has been bad)- but I did not ride my youngsters who I only backed last summer, and stopped riding my slightly temperamental mare at about 4 months as didn't feel safe. I have only been riding my safe boy who I have had or 10 years. I have even galloped him on a common at about 5 months pregnant. But I have reduced the risk by only riding him and not jumping/ competing. that was my compromise.

The one thing I did not realize until I was pregnant was that it does effect your balance and all your ligaments/joints very early on. I have been going to an osteopath regularly and my hips have often become wonky due to slack ligaments. this can really effect your riding, even when there is no big bump! just something to bare in mind.
 
It's a forum - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I notice nobody in the "carry on" camp has mentioned they've lost a baby. Whatever the cause...it gives you a different outlook on life. So I might not be so quick to call those advising against it "crusaders" or full of "vitriol". Getting away with it does not qualify you to tell others it's perfectly safe. Nor does stopping riding mean you have to turn into a couch potato and become overweight.
 
Nudibranch said:
It's a forum - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I notice nobody in the "carry on" camp has mentioned they've lost a baby. Whatever the cause...it gives you a different outlook on life. So I might not be so quick to call those advising against it "crusaders" or full of "vitriol". Getting away with it does not qualify you to tell others it's perfectly safe. Nor does stopping riding mean you have to turn into a couch potato and become overweight.
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100% agree. It's that '...it never happened to me so it's safe" attitude.
 
Nudibranch said:
It's a forum - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I notice nobody in the "carry on" camp has mentioned they've lost a baby. Whatever the cause...it gives you a different outlook on life. So I might not be so quick to call those advising against it "crusaders" or full of "vitriol". Getting away with it does not qualify you to tell others it's perfectly safe. Nor does stopping riding mean you have to turn into a couch potato and become overweight.
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Totally agree with this. Plus there's plenty of other ways to keep active whilst pregnant that don't involve getting on a horse. I don't understand the comments about being a couch potato if you're not riding - it doesn't have to be one or the other! I walk several miles a day with my dogs, do strength training (under the guidance of a coach) and swim.
 
Nudibranch said:
It's a forum - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I notice nobody in the "carry on" camp has mentioned they've lost a baby. Whatever the cause...it gives you a different outlook on life. So I might not be so quick to call those advising against it "crusaders" or full of "vitriol". Getting away with it does not qualify you to tell others it's perfectly safe. Nor does stopping riding mean you have to turn into a couch potato and become overweight.
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Everyone is entitled to an opinion but there are some posters on here who have made the same comment circa 6 times about not riding including statements along the lines of they feel very strongly that you shouldn't ride when pregnant, this to me is crusading. Replying to different posts is one thing but making effectively the same comment over and over is crusading.

Also people suffer miscarriages quite a lot frequently because the foetus has some abnormality, also because the mother has physical issues that make her prone to miscarriage and some relatively rare cases because of an accident or injury. Why should all mums change their life just because some have had the misfortune to have a previous miscarriage ?

The OP and her husband have considered the risks and made the decision that whilst physically able she will continue to ride. Her problem is with close family members applying pressure to change her mind which is starting to stress her out. So what happens she posts on here for advice and gets more pressure.

Just because
 
Nudibranch said:
It's a forum - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I notice nobody in the "carry on" camp has mentioned they've lost a baby. Whatever the cause...it gives you a different outlook on life. So I might not be so quick to call those advising against it "crusaders" or full of "vitriol". Getting away with it does not qualify you to tell others it's perfectly safe. Nor does stopping riding mean you have to turn into a couch potato and become overweight.
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Respectfully, I am not sure having lost a baby previously has any bearing on whether someone chooses to ride or not. A huge amount of pregnancies miscarry, largely due to embryo abnormalities and that has nothing to do with what the mother is up to. I don't think the OP or anyone else on here is daft, or underestimates the impact and horror of losing a baby is, its just they deem the risk to be lower than you may do. This could be in the same way that you may think taking a horse eventing at 1* is risky or dangerous but some others don't. Its all personal choice. I believe in calculated risk, not unnecessary ones. And the risks I have due to various injuries I have means that simply walking up and down stairs or down to the yard is as dangerous to me as riding a horse.

The OP deserves a bit more support and respect for her choice; as I said earlier, the fact that anyone outside of her or her husband is trying to make a choice for her is, to me, unacceptable.
 
I don't have children and certainly dont plan on having any as Im not kid person and certainly not maternal. My two pennies worth though....
You should do what is best for you, your hubby, and the baby. If you and hubby are happy for you to carry on riding then go for it. You know your horse and capabilities. If it gets to the point where you are feeling uncomfortable then stop.
I don't think I could stop riding for 9 whole months and not go out of my mind so I can't say I blame you. Maybe just stick to low risk rides though, just some gentle hacking and schooling.
 
Ok, I'm going to make one more post, just because some of the supporting information on here could be misleading. Firstly, being overweight is not the only risk factor for pre-eclampsia; plenty of people get it without being overweight. Secondly, the idea that a baby is particularly protected from impact is a nonsense and to make a decision based on that belief could be dangerous. My husband has, over the years, had to deal with a number of victims of car crashes and the like, and sadly many babies do not survive despite the mothers doing so. Last year we had some friends over to talk to OH with their daughter, who had been in a crash and lost the baby. She had only very minor injuries but suffered an undiagnosed placental abruption. Impact is a risk, full stop.

I am not saying this is an automatic outcome obviously. However being married to someone who deals with problems in pregnancy for a living, and having experienced the darker side of pregnancy myself, and knowing how protective one becomes with a new baby, I would rather share a few facts. Better the OP has both sides of the argument than some misleading anecdotes about how it's no risk at all....
 
Hi when i found out I was pregnant at 6 weeks I decided to keep riding as long as possible however not to jump/xc go on beach rides etc basically school and hack out I did my last competition (stressage) 2 weeks ago I'm now 6 months pregnant and have had to stop, not by choice but having a difficult pregnancy, a couple of scares (nothing to do with riding) and now have a torn psoas and tummy muscles (not through riding or doing anything crazy I hasten to add!) Im asolutely gutted but these things happen, my horse (youngster) had his shoes taken off this week and has been turned away for a few months, which will take the urge to hop on away!! plus it will do him the world of good to just be a horse and his rubbish tb feet some time to harden and regrow. I think In a lot of ways we and the little ones are more robust than we think however listen to your body and your gut instinct as well as the medical professionals. At the end of the day it's just a few months out of your whole life of either taking it a bit more sedately in the saddle or having a break from it altogether. However ensure your happy, everyone will tell you what to do and in a way you almost become public property the minute you are pregnant everyone thinks they can tell you how to live your life and gives their opinion on every little thing you eat,do etc x
 
I feel it's totally the OP's choice whether or not she rides, just as long as the baby's father is ok with the decision. Grandparents too, to a lesser degree.

However, if the father is adamant she doesn't risk the baby's life unduly by riding, specifically competing and jumping, then that is different and I would consider that to be a very selfish decision on OP's part. Yes, of course there are everyday risks to everyone, pregnant or not - but often these are unavoidable risks, and riding is most definitely avoidable.

I personally rode up until 8 months pregnant with my first daughter (didn't jump) and all was well, but I didn't ride at all during my two subsequent pregnancies. I wouldn't recommend riding, but that's my opinion - and anyway, once you've had one child your priorities change.
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I think you might have opened a can of worms here! As a non parent I am not qualified to really comment but I must admit my heart missed a beat when you mentioned team chasing !! Your parents are worried about you, they are worried about their soon to be grandchild. I'd be the first to say do what you want, it's your life but now it's also the life of your child. One slip , one mistake and it's all over. It is of course up to you but can you just not tone it down until the baby is here. Then get straight back to competing , Hot to Trot is a fine example of a mum who fits in competing around breast feeding!! This is of course just my opinion, it's your choice.
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Agree with every word of this. I've not got children, but I think this is how I'd approach it. A friend wanted to carry on as long as she could. She had just registered her horse with BS as had got fed up of not getting pregnant and 3 weeks later, guess what happened. She went to 3 BS events after that but found that sub-consciously, she was worried about falling off (on a horse that to this day, nobody has ever fallen off, just fallen over with!) and her riding got very defensive. When her boy stopped with her (unheard of) she realised she wasn't being fair to anyone, least of all him. She carried on riding until 5 months when her bump made getting on and off very difficult but didn't jump, which suited me as I started sharing him and still do 10 years later!
 
I think you're sensible in slowing down op, I rode until around 7 months and last jumped at 6 weeks. The most risky thing was my horse was coming back from rehab and started being a wally so I stopped.

And to go along with nudibranch, pre eclampsia is a condition you can do nothing about. I was far from overweight when I got pregnant, and as I said rode until 7 months, groomed for a friend competing at advanced and 2* CCI stay away shows, swam and walked loads. Diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 34/5 weeks, perfect easy pregnancy til then. I ended up putting on 3.5 stone in the end which was mainly fluid in my legs and feet!! I lost 2 stone in a week post baby all in wee! That comment has really cheesed me off :mad3:

OP only you can decide, but your decision may likely change if you have another once you have your baby in your arms and realise just how precious they are. Losing a baby, even if early is devastating.
 
pennyturner said:
I rode through 6 pregnancies - right past my due date, so I'm better qualified to comment than many here. Riding keeps you fit, keeps you sane, and the biggest risks to you and your baby are from sitting doing nothing whilst other people feed you donuts... it's OK, you're eating for two, right?

Compared to the risks of pre-eclampsia and numerous other conditions associated with bored, fat, underactive mothers, the risk of a fall, especially for a competent rider on a steady horse, are negligible. Even a fall is quite unlikely to harm the baby, who is protected inside and often survives the kind of car crash which kills the mother!

It's your body. Don't let other people bully you. Do what YOU feel safe and comfortable doing. You are a much better judge of your body, pregnancy, horse and competence than they are.
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^^^^ this.... I rode until the day before, (daughter born at 37 weeks) all went fine, daughter is healthy and horsey (and now 23)
 
A friend of mine rode until 3 weeks after her due date!! With no ill effects to her or the baby. It's a matter for you. If you and the baby are doing okay and suffering no ill effects then carry on until you want to stop.
 
It's such a personal thing and I think people are generally very opinionated about it either way! I personally rode through my first pregnancy to 7 months, although I did stop jumping on request of my partner so purely did flatwork and dressage competitions on my horse who I'd had for years and felt safe on. I'm quietly expecting again now and have two BE events this month which I'll do, then that's the end of eventing anyway in my area but I'll probably show jump a bit longer, nothing big or challenging though. Then will just hack quietly etc. the nearer I get. I've got someone lined up hopefully who will keep my horse ticking over a little when I do decide to stop for a bit - usually when it gets to the sloshy feeling stage! However, I was lucky with my first in that I didnt show until the last 3 months, this time round I feel huge already so it may limit me quicker than expected... My OH would rather I didn't ride but he'd rather I gave up the horses all the time anyway! My mum and brother say its totally up to me what I do, my OH's side would prefer I didnt ride but its not up to them. With my first pregnancy, my midwife and doctor both rode throughout their own pregnancies :)
 
Everyone's different and has differing opinions of course! Personally, I did ride until about 8 months, but listened to my body. Stuck to flat /lessons - no jumping at all. I felt fine and would probably do the same again if I was expecting.

But I've had 2 beautiful, healthy and lovely children and my family is complete at that!

Yes, of course, there is risk involved, but for me personally I felt it a manageable one. Very sane, sensible older horse I have had since my own childhood, stuck to flat. I trust him 100% and actually had some very fulfilling lessons on him during that time! It kept me mentally sane and gave me exercise. Each to their own though.

Personally wouldn't jump/team chase! /back/break/school Unknown /ride others etc.
 
stencilface said:
And to go along with nudibranch, pre eclampsia is a condition you can do nothing about. I was far from overweight when I got pregnant, and as I said rode until 7 months, groomed for a friend competing at advanced and 2* CCI stay away shows, swam and walked loads. Diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 34/5 weeks, perfect easy pregnancy til then. I ended up putting on 3.5 stone in the end which was mainly fluid in my legs and feet!! I lost 2 stone in a week post baby all in wee! That comment has really cheesed me off :mad3:
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Where did I say that you can't get pre-eclampsia (or any other ante-natal condition) if you're fit and healthy. I didn't. I stated, correctly, that the risk associated with being sessile are greater than those associated with activity, including horse-riding.
Similarly, any woman unfortunate enough to suffer a miscarriage did not 'bring it on herself' any more than a woman who suffers a rape, robbery or heart attack should be blamed for it.

I honestly think that the risk of doing ANYTHING whilst pregnant are vastly overstated, and stem from a strong need to nurture (at best) and control (more often) what should be a woman's own business.

I spent the best part of 10 years pregnant, and if I'd listened to everyone who 'was just thinking about the baby', I'd have lost control of my physical self, career, sexuality, independent travel and probably my mind.

It is perfectly possible to carry a child and carry on doing whatever the heck you were doing beforehand... if this bothers people, perhaps they should go to one of those delightful countries where women stay home and do as they're told.
 
To quote you pennyturner:

"Compared to the risks of pre-eclampsia and numerous other conditions associated with bored, fat, underactive mothers, the risk of a fall, especially for a competent rider on a steady horse, are negligible"

You basically did say that pre-eclampsia is only associated with people who didn't ride. I wasn't bored, fat or underactive, the same as many others who get pre-eclampsia, 1:10 of pregnancies I think. Also pre eclampsia is manageable and monitored, unlike a trauma sustained in a fall from a horse, negligible or not.

I don't think any have said that you should sit on your arse whilst pregnant, just that maybe team chasing is probably not something many would do.
 
Stencilface, putting 'only' into my sentence significantly changes the meaning. Being over-weight is a risk factor, and is associated with all kinds of pregnancy problems. That doesn't mean you can't have trouble without.

Every pregnancy is different, and of course not everyone will want to run a marathon or whatever. I wouldn't team chase (my riding's not up to it!)... but I would defend any woman who wished to do so.

It's funny how once you're pregnant you become public property. People touch you inappropriately, and tell you what you can and can't do/ride/eat/drink. I'm a reactionary old trout, so I don't like that ... and if you think I'm a bit growly now, you should have seen me when I was pregnant! :D
 
pennyturner said:
Stencilface, putting 'only' into my sentence significantly changes the meaning. Being over-weight is a risk factor, and is associated with all kinds of pregnancy problems. That doesn't mean you can't have trouble without.

Every pregnancy is different, and of course not everyone will want to run a marathon or whatever. I wouldn't team chase (my riding's not up to it!)... but I would defend any woman who wished to do so.

It's funny how once you're pregnant you become public property. People touch you inappropriately, and tell you what you can and can't do/ride/eat/drink. I'm a reactionary old trout, so I don't like that ... and if you think I'm a bit growly now, you should have seen me when I was pregnant! :D
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I personally don't see the link between riding and being slim. A high proportion of horse riders you see are obese.
 
Lissie2 said:
I feel strongly about it. Why can't people just postpone riding for a few months or get someone else to ride rather rham risk their baby's life? Even if it's the lowest risk possible it still not worth it x
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As a mother of two, I agree with this. In the end it is personal choice, but, I just can't understand why anyone would want to add to the risks that having a baby involves. I do feel for potential grandparents etc. as they are not only worried about baby, but also about you (their baby although grown up) and how you would be if anything went wrong. You asked the question are you being selfish and unreasonable, for what it's worth, yes, I think you are.
 
Personal choice and as long as you dont suddenly decide to get on a horse if you have never done it before then as an usual activity you should be fine. However you do have to accept the risks and decide whether they are worth it. I rode for wee while while pregnant because I didnt know I was but at 5 months I found out I decided not to because he was my third child and knew how I would feel if I lost him. I was always of the opinion that any activity you are used to is fine but not to start something new. Some will tell you it makes for an easier birth but in may cases the muscles are so strong it makes it longer. Still I am another vote for do as you feel comfortable with and go with medical opinion
 
My GP brother told me that riding a horse whilst pregnant is fine. However, he added, falling off a horse whilst pregnant is absolutely not fine.

I carried on riding the steady horse, and even did low level dressage comps with him, but I roughed off the idiot horse.

Team Chasing whilst pregnant is IMHO nuts.
 
It really is a personal choice & I don't think you should be feeling guilty! I stopped riding when I found out as my horse was just backed and I didn't quite trust her had I still had my old boy I'm fault confided I would have carried on riding as long as I was comfortable, I have found since having my son I've lost a lot of nerve and I don't think I would ride throughout any future pregnancies as I am alot more anxious about potential risks now than I used to be. Whatever you decide it's YOUR decision and nobody else's. Best of luck with the pregnancy.
 
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