Problems during pregnancy because you rode?

I carried on doing all sorts of things I shouldn't have done (including being chased home fairly fast by my GP in her BMW when I was on my BMW bike, I was 8 months pregnant at the time!) and my daughter was fine BUT we take a very pragmatic view on life - it was more likely that I'd slip on our horrendously steep stairs than that I'd injure myself any other way.

If you have been trying for a while and your family are ultra protective then if I were in your shoes I'd keep active for the next six weeks but not ride until I was past 13 weeks. Being blunt, quite a few pregnancies don't make it that far (and I've had that happen to me even when I was being ultra careful as an older mother) so if something happens before that time then your family might be rather "I told you so". After that time, if my GP and midwife said it was fine then I'd be back in the saddle. Oh and take your husband to the appointment with you when you ask if it is fine to ride so he hears it from the horse's mouth so to speak.

hth
 
I rode up until a few days before I delivered each of my three with my doctor's full support.

I did lose one pregnancy at 13 weeks, cooking a big holiday dinner.

IME, family members are more worried about doing what YOU enjoy but are much less concerned when you are doing something for them.
 
Its whatever you feel comfortable with.

I have suffered 4 miscarriages in the past, not sure if it was anything to do with riding, pretty sure not, just one of those things. I now have 2 children and rode when pregnant with them until I had a bump. I could of carried on but personally I decided that just for those few months it was better not to take the risk. My horses seemed to enjoy a bit of time off. I was back riding within 2 weeks of both. Its not that long to stay out the saddle. Children grow up so quickly and are soon off to school. There is plenty of time to catch up with horses then.

Good luck.
 
Before I fell for my first baby I was very much of the mind that Pregnancy was not an illness and as such it would not stop me doing anything! I found out I was pregnant at about 6 weeks and after a year of trying I was over the moon. I had been for a riding lesson the weekend before I found I was preggers (I wasn't a horse owner at the time) and I could see no reason why I shouldn't go for my next one the following week. However, a few days after I did "the" test I started to bleed and it's amazing how your pre-pregnancy outlook can change! I really wanted my baby and the thought that I might be loosing it horrified me. Luckilly the bleeding settled down as often does in early pregnancy and I went on to have a lovley big baby boy. But, I chose not ride again till after the birth and I took the decision not to ride for both my subsequent pregnancies either. I do believe that this is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong but as has been mentioned before the first 13 weeks do not always go to plan. And you have to consider how you or your family might feel should anything go wrong during this time. What ever you decide though good luck with everything. And whatever you do, make the most of any early nights and weekend lie ins you might get now as they soon become a distant memory once your little one arrives.
 
I'm a doctor and rode til I was 5 months when I became unwell (nothing to do with riding) and was banned from any activity by the medics... (most boring 4 months of my life)... There is no evidence that riding will cause a miscarriage and it's extremely unlikely that you would miscarriage if you fell off.... I'm of the opinion that you should keep doing what you are doing until you feel like stopping or you are told to like I was... but if you would blame yourself for a miscarriage because of your riding then stop... just remember that if sitting trot would cause a problem then I'm damn sure sex would so tell your partner if you can't ride then he can't do any horizontal jogging...

Bx
 
Thank you guys for all your input! I spent Saturday feeling very nauseous, sitting around on the sofa all day long feeling horrid and had a terrible day, so today I packed the horse in the box and went for a lesson - felt fine, so I think I may have to go with that! The only time I don't feel sick is when I am riding! :) I've also found a lead for a local dressage rider who could come ride for me, so that's another option for as soon as I don't feel up to it anymore.
 
I think you need to do what you feel comfortable with, listen to your body and don't take any chances...i rode til 37 weeks but i was on my pony that i had owned since a foal and trusted him, not sure that i would ride the horse i have now as she is more sharp and much bigger!
Congratulations!!!!!
 
im currently 29 weeks with my second. i never rode with my first but i did until i was 24 weeks with this one BUT i have strained my ligaments at the top of my legs which i have been in agony with these last couple of weeks. i have two horses but only one is in work which is my very wide chunky cob. docs said its because your muscles etc or more relaxed during pregnancy and more suseptible to strains etc. so if you do decide to keep riding just make sure you have someone who will take care of you and your horses should you become injured like me
 
Congratulations. I realy sympathise with you. I chose to ride with the blessing of my midwife, though kept to low risk situations. You will soon find out that being pregnant seems to be a signal to others to make all sorts of comments & judgements (even to start manhandling you!). You can listen to them, read the books and magazines, pregnancy horror stories and get stewed up about every new fad and piece of information - or you can just get on with it, enjoy this speacial time and remember this is what our bodies are designed to do. I ate stilton at christmas when I was pregnant with my Evie (now 19 months) and with my 1st ( she is 19 years old now) I craved sea food, you were alowed to eat it in those days, and liver was supposed to be good for expectant Mums.

Good luck dealing with the OH and propsective grannies & grandads - just do what YOU want.
 
I think you have to do whatever you eel happy with, sadly though riding does seem to make everything a bit 'tougher' I did all the perineal massage etc but I still saw the glint of scissors far more times than I'd care to remember, seems it was all too tough to tear.
The midwife asked straight away whether I rode a bike or a horse, she said that it was something she saw all the time with cyclers and horse riders.

On the up side - congrats. :)
 
Huge congratulations booboos. Can't offer advice re riding, I had ponies and looked after them as normal during pregnancy, but had nothing rideable so wasn't an issue. When I was pregnant with my first child I carried on competing my dogs in agility until 2 weeks before she was born, was very fit and had an easy birth. I then miscarried during my second pregnancy, it happened a couple of days after I had separated 2 fighting dogs and I totally blamed myself. When I became pregnant again I took extreme care of myself and sadly miscarried again, I realised then that it was just something that happened. My next pregnancy I was careful but still exercised, loads of swimming etc and everything was fine, however I wasn't as fit as the first time and had a very long labour. Bit of a ramble but basically as has been said pregnancy isn't an illness, and as long as you don't take stupid risks I wouldn't think riding would be a problem, however if it is going to cause conflict within your family maybe for the sake of a stress free life you should take a break.
 
From a health point of view I would have to agree with other posters and say that I had no problems riding up to my 8th month. But you do need to consider that your family etc are only thinking of the safety of you and your baby. My husband was not altogether happy about me riding still but allowed me to make the decision and trusted my judgement. I suppose you need to think about how you would feel if you did take a tumble. I know 7/8 months feels like forever but it isn't really.
 
@maggiesmum: "glint of scissors", "GLINT OF SCISSORS" RUNS AWAY SCREAMING! :eek:



:D
But seriously, riding is the only time I don't feel nauseous so I think that clinched it! OH is being lovely and said he trusts me to do what I think is best and the rest of the family can just be kept slightly in the dark (sin of omission or at least misdirection, not outright lie of course! :p)

Thank you for all your good wishes!
 
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